UGSCA 2025-26: Dowling’s five-wicket haul turns the screw on Williams & earns Cuballing grand final slot

A five-wicket haul from Joe Dowling scuppered Williams’ batting line-up and helped Cuballing reach Saturday’s Upper Great Southern Cricket Association grand final. Tackling a tricky preliminary final at home last Saturday, Dowling dispatched the Williams middle order to add to Damon Watt’s good work in removing the top two. Despite the efficient Cuballing attack, Williams still managed to set a testing 122 total but the hosts were just as good with the bat, reaching 5-123 for a five-wicket win that set up a trip to Wandering to battle for the premiership. Dowling was also a key contributor with the bat, adding 28 to his side’s winning tally. Cuballing put Williams in and all was well at first, Robert Rose (21) and Michael Forman (15) using the opening 100 balls to reach 33 for the first wicket. Rose was the first to go as his effort off Watt’s delivery was caught by Byron Blevin, while Forman lasted only three more runs before edging Watt to Rhett Ballard for the first of the wicketkeeper’s three catches. Riley Ford teamed up with Rodney Ford until Rhett Ballard struck again to remove Riley Ford off Thomas Fleay’s bowling for 12, but veteran Rodney Ford held on to make 46 off 61 balls until he became the third of Dowling’s scalps. Dowling had already dispatched Lucas Gangemi and Toby Lavender before he got rid of the key Williams threat and he went on to claim the wickets of Darcy Gillett and Kim Rintoul to finish with a flourish with 5-29 from his 10 overs. Charles Cowcher added 13 and Jarryd Morton was unbeaten on 11 as Williams closed on 122 after 43 overs. Blevin and Andrew Harris kicked off the Cuballing reply but Forman was quick to see off Blevin for three and then Riley Ford trapped Kendal Ballard for a fourth-ball duck to leave Cuballing on 2-20. Harris, however, went on to make a crucial 32, paving the way for Dowling’s 28 and then Brock Francis’ 33 as Cuballing got close to the target. Unbeaten batters Rhett Ballard chipped in with 13 and Bevan George added seven, including the winning run as Cuballing won in 32.4 overs. The final pits the top two finishers on ladder against each other, with Cuballing working their way to the big dance after losing a qualifying final thriller to table toppers Wandering. Honours were even between the pair during the regular season, Wandering notching an 83-run win in round two but Cuballing gaining revenge in round nine with a nine-wicket victory. The B-grade grand final on Saturday matches Pingelly-Noonebin against Kukerin-Dumbleyung on the turf wicket at Pingelly. Kukerin-Dumbleyung, who finished fourth in the regular-season ladder, came through their elimination final against third-placed Boddington and then won the preliminary final against Wagin, who had topped the ladder. Pingelly-Noonebin, who were runners-up in the regular season, toppled Wagin in the qualifying final to take the direct route to the weekend’s showpiece. The A-grade grand final will start at noon at Wandering, while the B-grade decider also starts at noon at Pingelly.