Anglesea’s Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association dynasty is showing no signs of weakening with the A1 Grade side winning its fourth premiership in five seasons.
The Seas did not lose a match all season and proved too good for a gallant Jan Juc at Winchelsea on March 14 after play was abandoned on the Saturday due to heavy rain.
Anglesea won the toss and batted first with Ned Cooper and Ash Poulton getting the side off to a bright start.
The 72-run stand was broken when Jordy Graham held onto a return catch from Poulton, who crafted 20.
Left-hander Cooper was run out by a Graham direct hit for a polished 56 with the score on 93 and the dangerous Dale Kerr departed for seven with the score on 3/113.
Former Carlton and St Josephs run machine Leigh Kentish settled in and with Jacob Nolan, started to push Anglesea’s total to dangerous levels.
Kentish was bowled by Ben Grinter for a well-made 37 from 58 balls, but Nolan continued to lift the run rate and was unbeaten on 56 from just 31 deliveries as the Seas made 4/193 from 40 overs, setting the Sharks a formidable chase of 4.85 runs per over to win.
Disaster struck on the first ball of Jan Juc’s innings with Kerr enticing Andrew Murden to edge the first ball of the innings to keeper Ty Norman.
Brett Venables kept a typically tight line and length to have Jan Juc on the back foot early. The right-armer took 1/12 from eight overs that included five maidens.
At 4/67 from 25 overs, the only thing standing between Anglesea and another premiership was star left-hander Ben Grinter.
Brad Roberts (35) provided support at the other end and when Grinter fell for a superb 61, it was Anglesea’s premiership. The Sharks eventually all out for 134.
Kentish chimed in with 3/15 at the end of the innings, but it was Nolan’s whirlwind innings that earned him the player of the match award.
