Hurley’s Hotel Hounds will try to create some cricket history of its own when it takes on Jarvis Delahey Crushers in the final of the Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve this Sunday.
With just two finals played over the past four seasons due to COVID-19, the Hounds can become only the second team to claim the T20 title.
Hounds eliminated Mud Dogs — the team that has beaten it in the two season deciders played so far — in the final preliminary round two weeks ago by a solitary run and accounted for the Crushers in the second round when it got all the favours on a wet Cobram wicket.
Hounds franchise owner and Hurley’s Hotel publican Brenton Sheppard said he would love to see a big crowd of supporters attend the game to support the locally based team.
‘‘There was great support for the Hounds in the final round two weeks ago at Kyabram and it would be great to see those supporters and even more there on Sunday to cheer the boys on,’’ Sheppard said.
This season’s competition has produced some stellar performances by Hounds’ players, none more impressive than Kyabram’s own Fire Brigade veteran, batting star Paul Newman.
The hard hitting left-handed opener has amassed 205 runs and has been out only once in the three preliminary games and goes into the final with a better-than-Bradman batting average.
He is a big key, but Hounds still have plenty of other capable runmakers in its line-up, including the in-form Kyabram skipper Kyle Mueller and Katandra’s Jedd Wright.
Opening batsman Tyler Jones from Leitchville-Gunbower has had to withdraw though injury and Bendigo spinner James Barri is also unavailable for the Hounds’ side, but Fire Brigade paceman Chare Smith and premier league all-rounder Michael Archer will come back into the side.
Sunday’s game starts at 2pm.