An excellent batting display from Tom Valeri and Trevor Richards has helped Diggers defeat Exies to take out the one-day title at Exies Oval on Sunday afternoon.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat, Diggers were on the front foot early with Theo Valeri and Mick Duncan getting their side off to a flying start before Andrew Arnold struck to remove Valeri (3).
Duncan (25) continued to score at over a run a ball before he was caught behind off the bowling of Marc Tucker (1/45), but Diggers found another gear with Richards and Tom Valeri coming together with the score on 2/44 after 7.3 overs.
Over the course of the next 16 overs, Richards and Valeri put their side into a position where they would be able to post an imposing total as the pair both posted fifties in a match-defining partnership.
After combining for a 131-run third wicket partnership, Jamie Winkler was able to make the breakthrough his side needed as he picked up the wicket of Tom Valeri (56).
Ben Watts (19) added runs to ensure the momentum would stay in Diggers favour as they pushed past the 200-mark before he became the second batsmen to fall to the bowling of Winkler (2/25) with Richards (75*) and Tushar Bhardwaj (3*) adding 11 runs off the final 10 deliveries to see Diggers finish on 4/221 after 40 overs.
Needing to score at 5.55 runs per over, Exies made a less than ideal start when Craig Burge (0) was dismissed by Theo Valeri with the fifth ball of the innings.
Arnold and Phil Burge gave their side a chance with a 41-run stand, but when Arnold (31) was dismissed by Luke Peruzzi, Exies lost 4/3 with Peruzzi taking three quick wickets while Valeri picked up Burge (9).
The lower order batting was able to make contributions with Tucker (38), Connor Bock (26) and Jimmy Nancarrow (16) making starts but the bowling of Dean Aylett (2/30) and Peruzzi (4/24) prevented them from breaking away.
When Bock was finally dismissed by Bhardwaj (1/1), Exies were bowled out for 149 in 35.2 overs to hand Diggers a 73-run victory.
Exies won't have to wait long to get their own back with the two sides meeting next weekend to see who advances straight into the grand final.