Bairnsdale Cricket Association is the 2024 division two Country Week champion after five unbeaten days of cricket, culminating in an exciting victory over Casey Cardinia in the grand final at the historic Albert Ground in Melbourne last Friday.
Restricting Casey Cardinia to 197 with Frankie Mostert taking 5/51 and spinner Jack Kesteven 3/31, Bairnsdale looked in trouble at 5/97, but the tail dug deep, led by man of the match and wicket keeper, Reagan Kyle (51).
Kyle combined in two significant partnerships with Brayden McCarrey (22) and Nicholas Adendorff (25), which saw Bairnsdale home with two wickets in hand and 10 overs remaining.
Mostert (21) and Brodie Anderson (20) also made solid contributions.
Bairnsdale skipper, Ryan Halford, was delighted with the victory, though it took a while to sink in. "It really was a surreal feeling, we played some great cricket and constantly backed ourselves, but to win five in a row off a poor GCL season was surreal," Halford said.
The skipper was high in praise of his side's ability to stick to its game plan and goal at the start of the week.
"We set ourselves the goal of making the grand final and getting back in the provincial group, we thought if we played our natural game and we executed well it was achievable, credit must go to everyone in the squad for contributing," Halford said.

IMAGE: Bairnsdale Cricket Association celebrates its division two Country Week premiership win last week against Casey Cardinia at the Albert Ground. Bairnsdale won the grand final by two wickets with veteran Regan Kyle steering the side to a two-wicket victory with an unbeaten 51. (PS)