By Tara Murray
Lalor Stars are through to a second grand final in a matter of weeks.
After making the Northern Region T20 grand final, the Stars won through to the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield grand final on Sunday.
Facing Bundoora United, who they had beaten the week before, the Stars continued their good late season form.
Batting first, the Stars were bowled out for 190 on the second last ball of the innings.
Alex Manoilovski top scored with 44 at the top of the order. Six players made at least 17.
Ashley Hamilton took four wickets for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs put on 21 for the first wicket, before they lost both openers in quick succession.
The key for the Stars would be a period where they took 5-17 to have the Bulldogs in trouble at 8-78.
The Bulldogs kept fighting but once they lost the next wicket the last one fell shortly after, and they were all out for 125.
The Stars needed just four bowlers, with Jamie Scott leading the way with four wickets. Nicholas Curtin top scored with 28 for Bundoora United.
The Stars face Banyule in the grand final over four days across the next two weekends.
PHOTO GALLERY: Lalor Stars vs Bundoora United
Banyule made 194 before bowling Eltham out for 166 in their semi-final. In the Barclay Shield, Epping lost a thriller against Heidelberg.
The Pingers looked out of the match until some heroics late on day two.
Batting first, Epping was cruising at 3-111 before losing 7-35 and then bowled out for 146.
Nathan Gardiner, who came in at number three, was the standout with 58.
Heidelberg was 0-31 at stumps on Saturday night.
On day two, the Pingers broke through with two early wickets but at 2-86 victory looked well off. In the space of eight runs the game was turned on its head.
The Pingers took 4-8 to need one wicket with two runs needed for victory.
It wasn’t to be, with Heidelberg finishing 9-147.
Josh Henkel finished with four wickets for the Pingers.
Heidelberg will face Diamond Creek in the grand final after the Creekers beat Lower Eltham.
Diamond Creek made 155 before bowling Lower Eltham out for 91.
In the Mash Shield, Bundoora Park will face Laurimar in the grand final after beating Thomastown United and Hurstbridge respectively
