Mike Waldren, who has been in career best form, came in at number three and smashed 152 runs in the two-day match staged at Morse Park 1 on the weekend.

He was finally caught out by a Shane Conroy delivery, when his team was at a commanding 7-282.

After finishing with a total 337, Redbacks then dismissing Colts for 116 to qualify for a fifth straight grand final.  

Redbacks captain Matt Willis was over the moon with the result and the effort of City Colts in making sure the wicket was not impacted by rain.

“Mikey Waldren’s batting was amazing,” he said.

“We’re pretty happy [to make the grand final], after losing the players we did from last year.

“With all the rain during the week, Colts done an amazing job with the covers. It changed the game so much for the better, than what it would’ve been.” 

Though Redback’s win was comprehensive, Willis said the pressure will be on rivals Rugby Union when it comes to the grand final.

“We’re feeling positive and the pressure will be on them,” he said.

“They haven’t been in a grand final in 30-odd years. If they don’t get it now they might have to wait a while to get another crack.”

On Saturday City Colts won the toss and decided to send Redbacks into bat. 

Openers Greg Adams (36) and Mark Day (six) started the work, before Waldren’s match-winning knock.

Trent Hemsworth (42) was the other main contributor.

Redbacks’ innings finished when Clinton Moxon (11), who had come in at number 11, was caught out off a Henry Allen ball. 

Colts’ Matthew Stephen took 5-71 off 24 overs, while Conroy claimed 2-20 off six overs.

When Colts went out to bat, they knew they had a task ahead of them if they wanted to qualify for another grand final.

The opening four batsmen for Colts scored only 32 runs between them: Henry Shoemark with 22, Patrick Hill with five, Izaac Molenkamp with a duck and Conroy with five. 

David Giorgio provided the only resistance for Colts with the bat, scoring 42 runs before being caught out by Waldren off Oliver Simpson’s bowling.

City Colts were all out for 116, in the 45^th over.

Waldren’s stand out match continued as he took 3-18 off six overs to be the best of Redbacks’ attack.

Ben Orme took 3-56 off 20 overs, Hemsworth 2-30 off 14 and Simpson 2-4 off three overs.

Colts captain Dan Casey said it had been an inconsistent season for his team.

“With the injuries we’ve had and the guys unavailable, we done pretty well to finish third,” he said.

“We’ll need a few more juniors to step up from second grade [next season].”

On who will win this season’s decider, Casey said he would like to see Rugby Union win.

“They’ve never won the grand final since the competition split from Orange,” he said. “They’ve had a good season, but it’ll come down to who plays the best cricket on the day.”