Coro Cougars take on Exies Eagles in GDCA's Don Coleman T20 Shield
The first piece of silverware in the GDCA first grade season will go on offer this Sunday when Coro Cougars take on Exies Eagles at Exies No 1.
Both sides were able to get through the two pool games with victories over Hanwood and Leagues.
In the first game, Coro was able to make a strong start with Dean Bennett (61) and Haydn Pascoe (38) at the top of the order as they got 111 before slow bowling but the breaks on the scoring.
Liam Warren (4/40) and Bailey Drinkwater (3/8) did the damage to see Coro bowled out for 168.
The Cougars were able to make early breakthroughs before Rob Rand (4/11) was able to rip through the Panthers lower order to see them bowled out for 91.
NO ISSUE: Coro's Alex Flood hurt his shoulder bowling against Leagues on Sunday but should be good to go this weekend. PHOTO: Liam Warren
Bennett (34) and Mitch Williams-Hedges (66*) were in-form in the second game as they helped to lift their side to 5/131 after 20 overs.
Hanwood gave the chase a good shake with Talwinder Singh (53) leading the way however good bowling from Pascoe (2/17), Bennett (2/18) and Yash More (2/27) to see the Cougars take an 18-run win.
It will be a different looking Cougars side who will take the field on Sunday with Bennett and Pascoe both set to miss the final due to representative duties with the Riverina Country Championship side.
Pascoe was pleased to have two of the younger boys able to come back into the side after missing last weekend's matches due to their own representative commitments.
"Other than myself and Dean I think everyone else should be available," he said.
"Siggy (Ben Signor) and Jake (Rand) were both away last weekend, so they will come in to replace myself and Dean."
After the first game against the Panthers, there was some concern around the fitness of Alex Flood who appeared to hurt his right arm, but Pascoe is confident he will be right come Sunday.
"At this stage, he is in the side," he said.
CONTRIBUTION: Aditha Jayasuriya scored 26 runs in Exies opening clash with Hanwood. PHOTO: Liam Warren
"He said he would be alright and Saturday afternoon he will know if he is able to back up on Sunday."
In Exies first game against Hanwood, they were able to overcome a slow start with Craig Burge (73*) and Aditha Jayasuriya (26) leading the way at the Eagles finished their innings on 6/140.
Tom Shannon (22) top-scored for Hanwood but three wickets to Sam Breed (3/8) and two each to Arjun Kamboj (2/22) and Connor Bock (2/20) saw the Eagles take a 51-run win.
The Eagles second game was much more of a walk in the park.
Tom Greenaway (32) and Reece Matheson (40) were able to get starts, but that was it for the Panthers as Jimmy Mann (3/28), and Daniel Duckworth did the damage with the ball to see Leagues finish their innings on 8/110.
Exies had little trouble chasing down the total with Burge (40*) starring with the bat again and with Connor Bock (32*) able to chip in as well the Eagles came away with an eight-wicket win.
Pascoe is expecting his side to come up against a determined Exies side.
"They will come out wanting to win," he said.
"Craig (Burge) batted really well in the first game and will be one to look out for.
"If the boys stay positive and take their chances, I think we will be alright."
The Twenty20 final will conclude a busy weekend for Griffith cricketers with the third and second-grade finals set to be played on Friday night.
The first-grade decider will get underway at 12pm.
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