Cuballing and Pingelly-Noonebin to square off in Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade grand final

Pingelly-Noonebin will be out to win back-to-back premierships when they face Cuballing in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade grand final at Cuballing Sports Ground on Saturday. The two sides have not met since round eight in December last year but will clash in the most important fixture of the season. Pingelly-Noonebin booked their place in the decider after finishing third on the ladder, winning their elimination final before defeating top team Williams in the preliminary final. Cuballing advanced straight through to the decider after winning their second semifinal over Williams. Cuballing have won both encounters with Pingelly-Noonebin this season and will be in search of their first premiership since 2016. Pingelly-Noonebin captain Tom Blechynden said it was a great opportunity for his side to win successive titles. “It’s very nice the thought that we are a chance to go back-to-back,” he said. “Cuballing have been a strong team all year and we always have had a good rivalry so it should be a good game. “Coming from third would be a great achievement if we did get up. “We have always believed in our ability all year to go deep into finals if we could get our full team on the park, so hopefully this weekend we all go well. “Our team is full of role players, I believe this is why we have been so successful the last few years because everyone is willing to play a role for the team without being carried by anyone.” Cuballing captain Grady Francis said his team were eager to make amends after being knocked out in the preliminary final last season. “It certainly would be nice to go that extra step and bring it home after being knocked out last season,” he said. “Pingelly have finished this season exceptionally well, I think we are so evenly matched as teams that it’s going to come down to the little things like holding all of our catches and building pressure with our fielding. “They’ve got a list of quality batsmen and we know what they are capable of if we are not switched on in the field. “I am expecting a close game, both teams bat a long way down the order so I don’t think that with 150, 160 on the board either team will think they have enough. “It would mean a lot to win, especially being at home, that just adds something a little extra.” The A-grade decider will start at noon. Meanwhile Harrismith and Boddington face off in the B-grade grand final at Harrismith Sports Ground at noon on Saturday.