Beavers and Blues on biggest stage

Eaton could be celebrating one of the quickest and most impressive turnarounds in BDCA history on Sunday afternoon. From finishing last in 2019-20, albeit in a five-team competition, the Beavers shot to the top of the ladder this season, defeating every side at least once — except Marist. Marist, too, have been forced to complete a turnaround of sorts. After being comprehensively beaten at home on the first day of the season, they also had an abandoned game and a bye inside the first six rounds, which put them a little way behind the eight ball. The reigning premiers flexed their muscles against a Hay Park side who seemingly played their “grand final” the week before. Marist’s trump card is obvious. Brayden Clarke’s 152 on Saturday was a timely reminder of his talent and his ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck. If he backs it up with another match-winning performance this weekend, he might reassert himself as Bunbury’s best cricketer. The Blues also face another difficult week at the selection table, with Jordan Stynes, who was dropped for Blaze Rosinski earlier in the finals series, making a valuable contribution with the ball against Hay Park, and Corey Fitt, whose injury allowed Stynes to return, available again. Eaton’s strength is in their bowling stocks. The “good-guy, bad-guy” new-ball pairing of the steady but remarkably economical Steve Barron and the vicious Liam Renton are so good, they relegate former WA Country XI bowler Jacob Wintle to first change. They will face Marist’s trump card head-on when he opens the batting. Both sides have defeated the other at home this season, Marist in round five and Eaton in the semifinal a fortnight ago, and while the wicket at the Eaton Sport’s Ground being flat and hard doesn’t suit anyone in particular, they are undefeated there. While they were awarded the premiership last year, Marist haven’t actually played in a grand final since 2011, while Eaton have not only played in the last three, they have five players still at the club from their last appearance, a loss to Colts in 2018-19. Prediction JB — Grand final experience, a scarily good bowling group and a perfect record on their own deck has Eaton winning it for me. The Eaton Sports Ground wicket is made for bowlers as crafty as Steve Barron and he is my tip for man of the match. JF — Whoever wins the toss should bat first. From here, a solid target could put the opposing side under pressure late on day one. Given the quality of their bowling attack, I think the Blues will be hard to beat, especially if Alan Utterson and Sam Roots take early wickets. I’ll also be keen to see Don Seaman (Eaton), Brayden Clarke (Marist), Alan Utterson (Marist) and James Hillery (Eaton) shine on the biggest stage of all.