By Ian Harley
FERNTREE Gully sealed their 13th first grade premiership with a disciplined effort in the field to deny Eildon Park their first.
The boys adopted their tried and tested strategies to strangle scoring opportunities and increase pressure on the batsmen.
Starting the day at 4/123, Eildon Park lost Shane Cosstick for 27 clean bowled by Dave Anstey.
A small but important partnership between Porter and Dowling settled the innings at 5/155 before both players lost their wickets in the 73rd over to evergreen Graham Salan.
The disciplined Blues’ attack held firm in the final overs, with Eildon Park needing 11 runs off the last over with one wicket in hand.
With Anstey bowling at the death, the Panthers were restricted to 9/200 to fall agonisingly short by six runs.
Salan received the Stephen Lee Medal for best afield for his marathon stint of 3/75 from 38 overs with 14 maidens.
Salan and Simon Spaulding announce their retirement at the end of the match
Day three of finals action saw Ferntree Gully bowled out for 206 in 74 overs. Matt Black provided the backbone for the Blues’ innings compiling a well crafted 61, following on from Mark Teofilo’s quickfire 57.
Eildon Park then had 43 overs to complete the days play. The Morris brothers got away to a flier for the panthers with Ben posting 39 before being dismissed.
Ferntree Gully managed to peg Eildon Park back taking a further three wickets, leaving the game evenly poised overnight.
Knox Gardens won their third Decoite Shield and promotion to Knox Tavern cup after tying the grand final with Knoxfield.
Saturday saw Knox Gardens take their overnight score from 4/109 to be bowled out for 239.
Dalton(55), Mulder (67) and Gregory (46) made sure that the Falcons set the Knights a decent target. Scott McKenzie snared five wickets off his 28 overs and Ben Morris grabbed three scalps.
Knoxfield’s chase was hampered by the loss of an early wicket but managed to finish the day in a good position at 3/104.
The resumption of play saw Trent Scholfied and Luke Scanlan push score along but as pressure built wickets fell and the Knights required 12 runs off the last two overs with two wickets in hand.
Knoxfield fell one run short with the tie ensuring Knox Gardens returns to the Knox Tavern competition based on ladder position.
Travis Mulder won the Ken Utting medal with a great all round performance taking 3/70 and scoring 67 runs.
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