HIBO are undefeated and undisputed champions after they beat Robertson by three wickets at Bowral’s Bradman Oval on Sunday.
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The feat means the Goulburn side are both one and two day premiers in the Southern Lands first grade Cricket competition, a rare feat considering Hibo last season had failed to even make the grand-final.
But the team of 2014/15 have proved time and time again that they have the hallmarks of a champion side.
Their batting depth and strike bowlers have consistently proved the difference against the rest of the competition.
It was no different in the final.
The undoubted highlight was a sensation batting partnership between in-form batsman Dane Stevenson and Nick Skelly, who lifted the team from a precarious 4/90 to lay the foundations of victory.
This included a superb 107 knock from Stevenson, his second consecutive century in finals cricket.
But winning skipper Mik Webber says he only knew they had won the game on the final ball of the match.
“It’s strange game cricket, even with ten runs to get and having three wickets I didn’t think we had it in the bag until Gersto (Mick Gerstenberg) hit a four and we only needed three to win,” Webber told the Post.
“It’s always good to win a grand-final, but to win one undefeated in a sport like cricket is pretty special for everyone.”
Robbo had won the toss and made no hesitation in electing to bat on a Bradman pitch that looked full of runs with a lightning fast outfield.
Ben Wright confirmed this theory with an explosive start, smacking 33 runs in five overs. His knock featured seven fours, and his typically aggressive approach had Robbo at 1/42 when he was caught by Andrew Tivey off Webber.
Opposing skipper Nathan Wright then joined Goodfellow in the middle and the two capitilised on the good start with solid mistake free batting to advance the score to 2/92 off 22 overs.
When Goodfellow was bowled by Tivey for an innings of 39, Aaron de Jager joined his captain and both batsmen continued to methodically build the target to 3/128 when de Jager was caught by Jesse Cao in the slips for 12 off Tivey
At 3/128, Bert Hamilton took over where de Jager left off in a crucial partnership for Robbo.
The two batsmen produced a productive partnership of 80 runs until Hamilton was trapped LBW for a very neat innings of 39 in the 49th over.
Spinner Stevenson had struck a crucial blow for Hibo.
He struck another telling blow for his team when he trapped Nathan Wright LBW after a great captain’s knock of 81.
Robbo were now 5/209 off 50 overs.
Webber reintroduced opening bowler Brad Smith back into the attack and, in a marathon spell of 16 straight overs, he restricted the Robbo run rate just when they needed to accelerate.
Smith took the key wickets of Beef,12, and Mitch Wright for 10.
His 16 over spell returning 2/40 in an effort that peeled back the run rate.
Webber took over the ball and continued to restrict Robbo’s batting.
He claimed two wickets to wind up the Robbo innings after Stevenson had claimed Keith’s wicket for a stubborn 18.
The Robbo innings ending up at 273 all out just before stumps on the Saturday.
Webber finished with figures of 3/67, Smith 2/74 off 25 overs, Tivey 2/41 and Stevenson 3/41. Hibo was happy to keep Robbo under 300 in the conditions.
The Hibo innings got off to a nice solid start the next day through Jesse Cao and Brad Webster, who looked in little trouble until Nathan Ring had Cao caught for 13. Stevenson then strode to the wicket and immediately started wielding the bat well.
He and Webster took the score to 2/47 after Webster lofted one to mid off from Mitch Wright for a patient 22 valuable runs.
With Stevenson batting away very steadily at one end, Ollie Sharwood fell for 9 and Hibo were at 3/61.
Josh Watling played a neat little cameo of 18 runs, but on the loss of his wicket, Hibo were looking uneasy at 4/91.
Nick Skelly came to the crease and in a case of deja vu from the major semi two weeks ago, he and Stevenson proceeded to restore Hibo’s fortunes.
Stevenson was now in complete control of the Robbo bowling, while Skelly took his time to settle in.
Skelly proceeded to play a brilliant innings of 65, with great footwork and displaying great attacking shots. The pair combined for a partnership of 142 when Stevenson was finally dismissed for a great innings of 107, featuring a mix of rock solid defence and attacking shots all over the field.
“I wasn’t convinced that I had done enough to get over the line,” Stevenson admitted.
“I’m just glad that I could contribute to the win but personally i believe Nick Skelly’s innings won us the game, I really do. He changed the momentum of the game into our favour. He batted outstandingly.”
Hibo were now at 5/233, but the job was not done yet.
Skelly fell shortly after Stevenson and Hibo were 6/233 and tantalisingly close to victory.
Hamish Copland joined Webber in the middle and he added a quick 11 runs before he was out at 7/244.
Gerstenberg then joined his captain and the two showed tremendous character to get Hibo home with Webber 16 not out and Gerstenberg 19 not out.
Gerstenberg played a great little innings getting four fours when they were needed for Hibo to end 7/278 amid scenes of great jubilation from the Hibo camp and supporters.
Robbo’s Mitch Wright had worked a marathon effort of 22 overs and took 3/91. He was well supported by fellow opener Nathan Ring with 2/80 of 21 overs and Nathan Wright 2/23 off 12.
“I don’t think anyone expects to win undefeated or even thinks about it,” Webber said.
“People started to talk about it at the end of the year, but you never expect it to actually happen.
“I think the difference this year was that everyone in the team gets on really well and everyone plays for each other. Everyone really contributed at different stages this year which also made it more special.
“Obviously Stevo (Dane Stevenson) and Jesse Cao had a really good year with the bat but there was also stages where Nick Skelly was scoring runs, Josh Wattling as well with different people chipping in, and it was the same with the ball as well.”