Queanbeyan's top-order batsmen dominated as it cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Eastlake in the John Gallop Trophy final at Manuka Oval yesterday.
Queanbeyan boasts a star-studded batting line-up, with its top-six batsmen all ACT Comets representatives, but it didn't need to bat that deep as it reeled in Eastlake's total of 226 with the loss of two wickets.
Jono Dean, fresh off the back of the 126 he plundered for the Comets against NSW during the week, led the Bluebaggers, top-scoring with 88.
However, at the start of the innings Jono was forced to play second fiddle to his little brother Blake, who smashed 55 runs off 58 balls.
The Deans put on a 112-run opening-wicket partnership before Blake was bowled by Matt Winter, only to bring captain Aaron Ayre (63 not out) to the crease and continue the Bluebaggers' dominance.
Eastlake was never in the hunt with Ayre sealing victory in just the 41st over.
''The way that Blake and Jono Dean started the innings really set the tone for our batting innings and probably got us over the line,'' Ayre said. ''It was a performance that I have been asking of the boys all year and it has just come at the right end of the season.''
Jono Dean almost saw the Queanbeyan innings through but fell with six runs required.
''At the end of the day that is just the way cricket is and the most important thing is that we got the team across the line,'' Dean said of his dismissal.
Eastlake played a controlled innings with the bat, with opener Matt Gawthrop absorbing early pressure from Queanbeyan's bowlers.
It looked as if the Demons would set a challenging total with captain Adam Tett (61) and Baden Dinham (51) looking solid, before Eastlake collapsed, losing seven wickets for 70runs to stumble to 9-226 from its 50 overs.
Tett rued his team's inability to convert its positive start but believed his inexperienced side would be better off for the game.
''It will be a massive experience for the boys,'' Tett said
''A lot of the boys haven't played in a first grade grand final but now they have and they know what to expect with the occasion and learn from the benchmark of the competition.''
It is the second trophy for Queanbeyan this year after winning the statewide SCG Country Cup but Ayre preferred his victory at Manuka as ''it was just an easier win as [the SCG Cup] we only won by two wickets ... and it almost gave me a heart attack''.
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