It was a toss-up on paper when second-place Cowichan met third-place Albion in the Victoria and District Cricket Association semifinals.

Unfortunately, Albion won the coin toss before the game at Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park — a sign of things to come.

Albion put Cowichan to bat and, within two overs, two wickets were lost — including leading batsman Mike O’Flaherty.

Adam Benning and Clayton Bodkyn steadied the innings for the next 30 overs. Albion didn’t get any more wickets immediately, but their bowlers restricted Benning and Bodkyn to less than four runs per over.

“Consequently, Cowichan’s total was not going to be a big target for Albion’s batsmen,’’ pointed out Cowichan club member Howard Martin.

Four more wickets fell in the last 10 overs, as Cowichan made a valiant effort to increase its run rate. At the end of the 45 overs, Cowichan had just 162 for six.

“Matches can be won with such a total, but the bowling would have to be particularly accurate,’’ Martin indicated.

Such was not the case, as Albion went immediately on the offensive and scored at a rate of nearly six runs per over.

Albion reached 163 at the end of 28 overs, with just four wickets lost, to win the match.

Cowichan bowlers were unable to pin down the opposition and the team clearly came out second best on this occasion.

The teams split two close games during the regular season and expected the same from a playoff battle, but Albion had other ideas.

The cricket season hasn’t wrapped up entirely, as there are two more friendly games on the agenda at Shawnigan Lake’s Elford Road Grounds.

An intersquad game begins at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 followed by a barbecue and awards.

Then, life begins at 80 for Peter Clarke. The Over 40s section of the club is playing a game Thursday, Sept. 17 starting at noon to celebrate honourary president Clarke becoming an octogenarian.

Clarke has been involved in cricket and rugby on the island and provincially for more than 50 years.