The Hornets will now take the long route to the Grand Final by having to beat the Yass Taipans at home this Saturday.

Due to a shortage of players Kelvin Brown & Philip Woodhead were required to pull on the whites to make up the numbers.

Hornets won the toss and decided to bat first in hot and humid conditions.

James Woodhead (1) was not able to reproduce his form of the previous week when in the third over he spooned an easy catch to mid-wicket off Drew Arabin.

He was shortly followed by Jayson Smith (0) when a contentious return catch was claimed by Victor Coble, Smith stood his ground but square-leg umpire was forced to rule relying on the sportsmanship of the fielder.

At 2 for 6 the Hornets were deep in doggie do!

To compound matters opener Kai Steele was horribly out of form and struggled to rotate strike.

It was not a surprise when he was finally bowled by AJ Sykes for 10.

Jeff Brown joined Nathan Anderson and the Hornets fortunes started to change, both batsmen batted perfectly driving the full balls through covers and deflecting or pulling the shorter deliveries through the leg side.

Anderson (24) was finally out when an inside edge cannoned into leg stump off Nic "Bumble" Arkiaswamy.

Bumble has an usual bowling action as side-on, it is like a windmill in a cyclone, arms going everywhere and then the ball just fly's out.

Brown was then joined by 14 year old Jack Nicholls and the momentum continued, Nicholls playing his best innings of the year.

A highlight of his batting was when brother-in-law, Drew Arabin was introduced into the attack.

Arabin though he would start with a bit of chin music but young Jack had other ideas hitting him over mid-wicket for consecutive fours.

Arabin then pitched up and was thrashed straight down the ground.

After completion of the over Arabin was sent to fine leg to lick his wounds.

After a 68 run partnership Brown was out to a skied catch at long off for 53 off Mick Patterson, this was two balls after a six over long on which cleared the light towers.

Nicholls then followed a few balls later when a inside edge rolled back onto his stumps for 31.

Paul Potts (4) and Beau Abnett (DUCK) came and went cheaply and it was left to Shane Abnett and Jack Glover to get a respectable score.

Both batsmen took to the bowling until Abnett was out for 23 off 17 balls faced.

Kelvin Brown failed to trouble the scorer getting the ball of the century which hit leg stump (that is the story he is sticking too), leaving Glover not out 17 (a great investment Mum on the new bat!). Hornets all out for 175.

Binalong got off to a cautious start, the normally chirpy Dylan Arabin received some of his own treatment back, having more swings than a community playground.

He was well caught by Jeff Brown off Nathan Anderson for 6.

The game recommenced after the sound of crashing doors and smashing gear which signalled Arabin having reached the changerooms.

Bumble joined George Knight, who at that stage had more blocks than a Lego set, to get the innings going.

Both bats being tied down the Hornets were well on top.

The pressure was relieved when Bumble sliced a chance to Paul Potts at point, but the chance was grassed.

Binalong batsmen dug in to drinks and it was still anybody's game at 1 for 82.

After drinks both batsmen rode their luck with balls either falling short or carrying the fielders, bowlers were rotated but the break through could not be achieved.

Finally Knight was out for 90, probably deserved a century, to a catch by Potts off Jeff Brown.

AJ Sykes (10 no) joined Bumble (62 no) to get Binalong home in the 35 over.

A closer game than what the scores reflected.