The Waroona Warriors and Singleton Irwinians will once again go head-to-head for the Wylie Cup after both won their way through to the Peel Cricket Association’s A-grade grand final over the weekend.
It will be familiar surroundings for the two, who met in last season’s finale with Singleton taking out the win, but Waroona has the chance to redeem themselves and get revenge this time around.
The Warriors enter the finals as favourite thanks to them taking out a win over Singleton in the qualifying final on Saturday.
Jayden Derosa (88 runs) and Brandon Burt (50) did enough to help their side withstand some excellent bowling from Singleton’s Ian Bowes (5/31), seeing Waroona race to a score of 9/224.
A prolific spell with the ball from Daniel Abel (4/19 off 10 overs) was the drive the Warriors needed to keep Singleton at bay and book an early spot in the grand final.
Across the region at Peelwood Reserve, South Mandurah was unable to capitalise on their own magnificent bowling form and eventually succumbed to Mandurah in an elimination final.
The Falcons appeared poised for a semi final appearance after Jesse Buck (2/8 off 10 overs) and Phil Wirth (3/10 off 10) put the clamps on the Mandurah batsmen keeping them to just 124 runs.
But South Mandurah’s chase was the stuff of nightmares.
Opener Reece Scarlett went for a duck, as did fourth-in-line Nick Scholl.
Brad Holmes and Matt Hill mustered just 12 runs between them, as no Souths batsman breached double figures until eighth in the order Joe McConnell piled up 29.
The tail continued to wag with Clint Hutchison notching an unbeaten 14, but the Falcons could not hang on for the win being ousted on 104 runs.
The loss ended a Cinderella-esque season for South Mandurah, who stormed into the finals after losing their first four games.
The victory saw Mandurah into a preliminary final against Singleton the next day, but they were unable to back up their good form from the Saturday as Bryce Evans led the Irwinians to the win.
Evans piled up a much-needed century for the reigning champs, with his 104 comprising the bulk of their 5/251 score.
Mandurah responded with a 176-run effort, falling short of a grand final berth.
The Warriors and Irwinians will now meet in a highly-anticipated clash, having been the top two sides throughout the entire 2017/18 season.
The two will collide at Stan Twight Reserve in their bid for the Wylie Cup title, with the game kicking off on the eastern turf at 12.15pm Saturday, March 24.