Four have become two in the Goulburn Murray Cricket Twenty20 competition after a blockbuster round of semi-finals was held on Thursday night.
It’s not the match-up many may have expected for the decider, but Bamawm-Lockington United and Nondies-Cohuna earned their places with impressive performances.
The Lions had the benefit of home-ground advantage against heavyweight Echuca and made the most of it in a 20-run win.
Batting first, BLU had purposeful contributions up and down the order, with no batsman overstaying his welcome at the crease.
Kyle Humphrys had the majority of the strike in the opening two overs, making 14 from his 12-ball stay.
Josh Cairns moved similarly briskly, adding 12 from 15 deliveries.
Captain Regis Chakabva proved typically difficult to shift. He was joined by Milton Shumba for a 63-run third-wicket partnership.
Chakabva eventually departed for 40, Jarryd Hatton making his impact felt on the match with the vital wicket.
Hatton also removed Luke Thompson for 12 in the final over to give him best figures of 2-40 for Echuca.
Shumba remained not out on 26 and was the second top scorer as BLU set 4-120 from its 20 overs.
The Echuca run chase was a stop-start affair, with wickets falling at regular intervals.
Brendan Moyle, who has been in fine form in the McMahon Shield, didn’t survive the first over, with Jeremy Felmingham removing the Echuca opener.
The loss of James Grixti (1) and Curtis Townrow (11) put Echuca in the unenviable position of 3-21, Koby James and Aidan Young attempting to rebuild the chase.
The two added 35 to give the visitor some hope, James in particular scoring quickly.
The loss of Young (17) was another blow and Jarryd Hatton followed soon after to bring Echuca to 5-56.
James continued to attack, he and Anthony Dennis adding another 34 to create the difficult equation of 32 required off 12 balls in the final stretch.
A team hat-trick for BLU put an end to any hopes of a miraculous victory, with Dennis run out before Thompson removed Charlie Hinks and Liam Bowe in consecutive deliveries.
Thompson (2-12) had the best figures of the three two-wicket takers for the Lions, Milton Shumba (2-17) and Thomas Dicker (2-30) also striking twice.
James’ 55 not out was a lone hand in Echuca’s eventual 9-100, his side crashing out of the competition a game short of the final.
Kyabram Fire Brigade vs Nondies Cohuna
Nondies entered as the ‘best of the rest’, earning fourth spot with the best differential of the 1-1 teams.
Fire Brigade entered as favourite and only added to that status with a useful batting innings that saw it post a competitive 6-144.
Paul Newman played a starring role, making 42 at the top of the order, while usual suspects Robert Salter (30), Kaine Herbert and Bohden Learmonth (both 21) all batted well.
Kieran Ellery (2-17) and Darren Rushton (2-24) led the Nondies attack, with Jake Klemm and Sam O’Shea also taking wickets.
Having not won yet this season in the McMahon Shield, the Nondies-Cohuna T20 side looked a different outfit in the run chase.
Opener Klemm was all over the Flames’ attack, belting eight boundaries, including three sixes, on his way to 69.
With a strong total to chase down, Klemm required support and it came in the form of Will O’Shea, whose quickfire 26 also included four boundaries.
Nondies kept the scoring rate at a manageable level throughout the chase, eventually reaching the all important 145 required with the first delivery of the final over, four wickets still in hand.
Strike quicks Salter (2-19) and Tom Owen (2-33) took two wickets each, but it wasn’t enough for the Flames to book their place in the final.
Bamawm-Lockington United and Nondies-Cohuna will battle in the GMC T20 final at Bamawm Recreation Reserve from 5pm on Thursday.