IN a replay of last year’s grand final, Katunga played Finley in its Murray Valley Cricket Association division one cricket match, and this year turned the tables to claim victory by two wickets.

Both teams are beginning to make a habit of producing nail biting finishes to their grand finals, after the Swans fell short by seven runs last year.

Finley won the toss and elected to bat on a damp and grassy wicket at Tocumwal.

Toby Miles and Dylan Baker put the pressure on early with some great bowling from both ends.

Miles struck early with the first wicket in the third over of the day and the Cats were 1/3.

Finley was soon on the back foot, with wickets falling repeatedly as the Swans’ bowlers continued to bowl to their field.

This proved to be the key, as Finley continued to pick out the Swans fielders when the ball was in the air.

Finley was quickly bowled out for a lowly 43 runs, with Toby Miles exceptional with the ball, claiming 6/7 off eight overs.

Shaun McCallister snared 2/12, Brad Tweed 1/4 and Spencer Small 1/5 in a magnificent fielding display.

Requiring only 44 runs for victory, Swans’ openers Brad Tweed and Nick Thorp

were confident going into bat, and soon found that the pitch still had the movement that was evident earlier in the day.

Finley struck early and Brad Tweed was the first to fall for five. He was quickly followed by Thorp and Ayden Youd.

Mitch Doyle and Daniel Henderson tried to bring some stability back, however a miscommunication saw Doyle run out for three and Adam Cook now at the crease.

Returning from the tea break at 4/15, Cook and Henderson were keen to get some runs ticking over, but soon after the resumption, Cook become the fifth wicket, followed four runs later by Spencer Small.

Finley was on a roll and Katunga was starting to capitulate, losing the next two wickets for six runs.

Things were beginning to look bleak for the Swans, at 8/30, as Henderson tried to hold the innings together with the tail enders.

Finally, a partnership was beginning to happen between Henderson and Shaun McCallister and, slowly but surely, the pair began to whittle away the remaining 14 runs required for victory, with Henderson fittingly hitting the match winning runs and remaining not out 31 in an exciting, low scoring match.

With the impressive bowling figures of 6/7 off eight overs, Toby Miles was awarded player of the match.