Exies has defended their fourth-grade title after a strong performance against Leagues under lights at Exies Oval on Wednesday afternoon.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat, Exies were able to make a flying start to the final with Hayden Forner and Sean Culgan opening the batting.
Forner was able to get their side off to a great start with 16 runs off the first three balls of the match, and their partnership flourished from there.
Forner (41 ret.) was the first to be forced into retirement after 6.2 overs having seen Exies hit 62 runs, and Culgan (40 ret.) followed two overs later.
Cooper James (1/15) was finally able to make a breakthrough for Leagues when he picked up the wicket of Billy Evans (4), but it did little to slow the scoring of Exies.
Jack Mingay and Corey Charles were able to keep the score ticking over with a 49-run partnership before Charles (12) was run out by Joel Schaefer with Exies sitting on 2/126 after 17.5 overs.
With seven overs remaining, Bailey Morrissey joined Mingay and looked to continue Exies push towards a total around the 200-mark.
After putting on 55 runs, Morrissey (32) fell to a sharp caught and bowled by Daniel Brown (1/20) leaving Morrissey and Christian Codemo 1.2 overs to score as many runs as possible.
Mingay (27*) and Codemo (12*) added 18 runs off the final 14 deliveries to see Exies finish their 25 overs on 3/199.
Exies were able to make an early impact as Forner (1/16) picked up the wicket of Brown (0) while Culgan picked up the crucial wicket of Noah Gaske (9) and Alex Minato (0) to have Leagues sitting on 3/24.
The Panthers were able to mount a fightback when Kyle Jamieson joined Patrick Payne at the crease. Over the course of the next 9.2 overs, Payne and Jamieson were able to get their side to 106 before Payne was forced to retire after passing 40.
Caelan Culgan (1/7) took the crucial wicket of Jamieson (37) while Evans (1/6) took the wicket of Schaefer (8) to see Leagues sitting on 5/125 meaning the Panthers need 75 runs off 9.4 overs.
James tried to see his side keep pace with the rising run while Oliver Young (3) was dismissed by Sean Culgan (3/23) while Tyler Minato (3) sacrificed himself to allow Payne to come back in.
Leagues needed 49 runs in just over three overs and while Payne (46*) hit a four off his first ball of his second stint at the crease, in the search for quick runs the innings came to a close.
James (13) was found just short of his ground by a throw from Sean Culgan to see Leagues bowled out 155 after 22.4 overs and give Exies a 44-run victory.