Sport
24 March, 2026
Curban wins 2026 Bendigo Bank ABC Shield
Joe Alchin was the unlikley late hero as Curban won a thrilling ABC Shield cricket grand final against Gulargambone.
Curban number 11 bat Joe Alchin scored six runs off the final three balls to win his side their first premiership since 1995/1996 in a pulsating Bendigo Bank ABC Shield decider at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra.
When Alchin found his way on strike for the first time, Curban required six from three balls.
That is a tall ask for an established top-order player, let alone last batter in, with a sizeable crowd in attendance to watch the closest-ever decider in history adding to the degree of difficulty.
However, under immense pressure, Alchin was able to hit a trio of consecutive twos to ensure Curban (9/130) overhauled Gulargambone’s 129 all out (43.5 overs) in the 2025/2026 Gilgandra District Cricket Association (GDCA) grand final on Saturday, March 21.
There was a small element of fortune in the success, GDCA president Jaimie Zell reported, with Alchin making connection off Peter Peters’ Jnr's (3-29 off seven overs) final ball before Alchin and Anthony Barry (10 not out) set off in hot pursuit of the two runs required.
“The Curban batsmen had no option but to go for a risky second run to secure a victory,” Zell said.
“Gular had their chance to secure a tie by effecting a run-out at the bowlers end, however a slight fumble from the bowler taking the throw ensured Anthony Barry made his ground.”
Minor premiers Gular had won 12 of 15 matches before the grand final with two no-results, only being beaten once, and also played well in the decider.
Their captain Brandon Hammond top-scored with 30 and also bowled nine brilliant overs to only concede 12 runs, Curban skipper Scott Chandler stating the Gular all-rounder was “near impossible to score-off”.
“Gular can hold their heads high after being the team all season and minor premiers,” Zell said. “I’m sure their time will come soon enough.”
For Chandler, it was a ‘great feeling’ to win a decider with Curban after a 30-year wait.
“It’s been a long time,” Chandler said.
“Either team could have won the game with players and supporters on both teams nervous with the game coming down to the last ball.”
Curban had last played in a grand final in 2007/2008.
Gulargambone has never won the ABC Shield and also last played in a decider back in 2015/2016, so Saturday’s decider was always going to be historic.
Gular had the running after winning the toss, batting and posting a moderate total (129) on an outfield slowed down by mid-week rain.
Gular skipper Brandon Hammond top-scored with 30 while Grant Millgate (23), Preston Ah-See (20), Tyne Chapman (19) and Levi Peters (11) also contributed as the top-order took responsibility to ensure a decent total was set.
Ah-See and Hammond added 40 runs for the second wicket, with Millgate and Chapman putting on 42 runs for the fourth-wicket partnership.
However, from 3-100 around the 37-over mark and a solid base set, Gular would have been hoping for more late runs.
Curban’s attack was disciplined with Jasen Starr (4-25 off nine overs including the key scalp of Hammond caught behind) returning the best figures.
Anthony Barry (3-20 off nine overs including three maidens) and skipper Scott Chandler (2-35 off 8.5 overs) also did well bowling out.
That trio were able to take vital late wickets, Chandler’s pair of scalps in the 44th over without conceding a run crucial. Barry importantly removed Milgate and Chapman.
Greg Younghusband (1-21 off seven) was another wicket-taker while all other Curban bowlers were economical.
While Curban remained close enough at all stages, their only prolonged stability with bat came when Doug Kelly (31) and Marshall Parker (18) added 52 runs for the opening wicket.
This partnership came off 22 overs, Kelly being the first dismissed despite top-scoring with Parker going in to bat for 26 overs in a patient display due to good Gular bowling.
After waiting more than 132 balls for one wicket (Kelly), Gular’s next success came the very next ball, Curban now 2-54.
Andrew Peart (22) and Isaac Mills (19) were key men in the Curban mini-recovery, and they added 20 runs for the sixth wicket.
At 6-91 in the 35th over, 7-104 after 40 overs and even 8-116 with two overs left, Curban seemed a little behind but were able to keep hanging in, taking the grand final deep.
Luke Jenkin (five) and Kane Younghusband (six) made important late contributions when each run was like gold, before Anthony Barry (10 not out) and Alchin (six not out) stepped up to be late-order heroes.
The number 10 and 11 needed to score nine runs off the final over and after Barry hit a two off ball one and a single off ball three, Alchin stepped up when it counted.
Chapman (3-26), Hammond (0-12) and Jaylem Peters (1-18) were all outstanding in nine-over efforts with ball for Gular while Peter Peters Jnr (3-29 off seven overs) was also very good for the unlucky minor premiers.
