Wendouree, Mt Clear in showdown

A BLOCKBUSTER showdown between Wendouree and Mt Clear awaits next week in the Ballarat Cricket Association Twenty20 Cup final.Both sides advanced to the season decider in convincing fashion last night, as Wendouree smashed Brown Hill and Mt Clear comfortably chased down Golden Point’s total in the competition semi-finals.For Mt Clear, it was a similar story as previous rounds as opener Matt Goonan smashed yet another half century, finishing on 72 not out.In his three Twenty20 matches this year, Goonan has remarkably smashed 102 not out, 84 and now 72 not out.Batting second, the Mounties chased down Golden Point’s total of 128 easily, with 16 balls still remaining.Damon White had given Point a ray of hope with the ball earlier when he dismissed Steve Nicholson and Ash George in the same over.However, a 94-run unbeaten partnership from Goonan and Matt Ward steadied the ship and Mt Clear went on to record a comfortable victory at the loss of just two wickets.For Wendouree, it was another destructive effort with the bat that saw it double the score of the Ballarat Electrical Bulls.After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Wendouree batsman showed no mercy at the crease to notch up a mammoth score of 3-208.Tristan Dixon got the Red Caps off to a convincing start at Wendouree 2, putting on a quick-fire 59 runs.The Wendouree batting order continued to shine as Liam Brady, 46, Heath Pyke, 38 not out, and Matt Kosloff, 51 not out, continued to tear the Brown Hill bowlers apart.In reply, Brown Hill got off to the worst possible start, losing two wickets before making a run and not scoring until the 12th ball.Nick Hyden, 54, was the only Bulls batsman to provide resistance as the rest of the side crumbled to be bowled out for 104.The final will be held next Tuesday night at 5.30pm.