March 14, 2024
Murgon Diggers caused an upset in the Grand Final of the South Burnett Senior Cricket competition on Saturday, downing favourites Tingoora Vikings in a nail-biting finish.
Vikings had sailed through the season unbeaten and had comprehensively beaten Diggers just two weeks earlier in the major semi-final.
Murgon then had to take the long path into the Grand Final by defeating Wooroolin Warriors last weekend.
As an added problem for Diggers, the Grand Final was being played at Tingoora’s home ground, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters.
Murgon won the toss and batted first.
Openers Ash Louis (80) and Matt Steinhardt (36) got the visitors off strongly however the rest of the team also pulled their weight; five more batters also made it into double figures.
Diggers were eventually all out for 254 at the end of the 37th over.
Scott Butters (4/19) took the key wicket of Louis while Keegan Wright (2/53) also tested Murgon at times.
In reply, Tingoora opener Edwin Simpson (43) began dangerously, hitting eight boundaries before being run out.
However, good bowling and fielding by Murgon slowed the run rate as the game progressed.
Bede Stapleton was best with the bat, hitting 77 runs, including 13 fours and 2 sixes on the small Tingoora field.
With a handful of overs left, it was mathematically possible for Vikings to overhaul Murgon’s target but bowlers Andrew Roderick (2/17), Jaden Heness (2/30) and Charlie Sippel (2/43) put paid to the home crowd’s hopes.
Scott Butters did his best when he came to the crease, hitting two boundaries but Tinny ran out of overs, falling short at 7/221.
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Gallery Of Photos
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Grand Final Scoreboard
