TWO years ago, Murrabit Cricket Club didn’t exist – on Saturday, they won their second consecutive NDCA A Grade flag in one of the most exciting local cricket grand final finishes in a long time.
The Blues picked up home side Barham’s final five wickets for only two runs to record an unfathomable win, defending their modest total of 134 by only two runs.
A club that not so long ago was only a memory showed the fight and scrap that has come to define them the past 24 months.
Needing five runs to win with five wickets remaining, Barham appeared on track to avenge their grand final defeat from a year earlier.
But the pressure of closing out a big game can strike anyone – from the Aussies at Headingly to Barham on Saturday afternoon.
Murrabit skipper Tim Millard told the Gannawarra Times it was the most incredible match he’s ever been a part of.
“I don’t think I’ve played in a better win than that,” he said.
“The comeback was absolutely ridiculous – to get five wickets at the end like that, I’m just lost for words.”
Since the club reformed, its rise to the top has been something out of Hollywood.
“It’s pretty incredible to have no side, then two years later we’re the strongest club in the league,” Millard said.
“We’ve got a lot of supporters and kids coming through, which just makes a club.
“I think the biggest thing is the club’s future is safe – the outlook is highly positive, we want to build new nets and we believe we’ll be here for a long time.”
One of those kids is leg spinner Zeb Hein, who plays with the Under 16s.
Despite his youth, perhaps it’s doubtful Hein will ever bowl a more important spell than he did on Saturday.
He was the chief destroyer in the collapse, taking three of the five wickets.
“It was an unbelievable effort from the youngster – he’s showing a lot of talent – he hasn’t bowled a lot throughout the year, but we threw him the ball and he delivered,” Millard said.
Man of the match went to Simon Kelly.
The all-rounder hit a crucial 29 not out before picking up the key wickets of Leigh Sobotnicki, Chameera Akurugoda and Brad Lake.
“He made some vital runs and to get the key wickets of Leigh, Chameera and Brad, who was destroying us, was what gave us a chance,” Millard said.
“In my mind, he was clearly the man of the match and the umpires saw that too.”
Millard highlighted the wicket of Jayden Vallance at the start of the collapse as critical but said the whole bowling performance was important.
“There wasn’t one moment that turned it, our whole team just never gave up,” he said.
“I think we were behind the eight-ball from the very start of the game, but we always believed.
“You could pick out heaps of moments, especially when it’s so close, but there were so many little moments throughout the whole game.”
In a tactic that will surely be discussed at reunions in the future, Millard and his brains trust devised a plan to limit the strength of Barham’s big hitters, including the in-form Sobotnicki and Akurugoda.
“We put the boundaries right back on the fence on our big ground,” Millard said.
“It played into our hands because they’ve got the power hitting whilst we’re better between the wickets and batting consistently throughout an innings.
“With the big boundaries, it took a bit of their power hitting away and we got a couple catches on the rope, including Lake.”
Wandella
A BRILLIANT fightback from the Woorinen tail wasn’t enough for them to overcome Wandella in a close contest.
Darren Rushton, who came in at No.9, was nearly the hero, hitting a superb 61 not out, but the Bombers held firm to win by a single run and lock in a home final.
The Bombers reached the preliminary final stage last season, but they head into finals in much better shape than 12 months ago, according to captain Gregory Dickson.
“Everyone’s on the same page and we have the confidence we can get ourselves out of a tight spot – whatever position we’re in, we believe we can still find a way to get to job done,” he said.
Dickson said securing a home final only two seasons after joining the SHDCA was a huge moment for the club.
“It’s massive to have it in Kerang – especially only being our second year in the competition, it’s big for our supporters who’ll enjoy being a part of it,” he said.
“We should get a good crowd on Saturday.”
The job of defending 168 was made tougher with the exclusion of opening bowler Ryan Barnes for the match.
Ethan McKnight stood up to take the new ball and grabbed his opportunity with both hands, taking four wickets.
Dickson lauded Ethan and brother Bohden, who took the crucial ninth wicket with only five runs left.
“The two McKnights have had great years,” he said.
“Ethan has had a breakout season – and they’re both bowling with a bit of pace that’s troubling people.”
Earlier on, the Tigers put the clamps on the Bombers, restricting them to a run rate of 3.36 an over.
Without the late-order hitting of Daniel Higgs (37 not out), the game could have been a very different story.
Higgs’ innings changed the momentum and gave his bowlers enough to defend.
“We were only about 84 at the final drinks break and that last partnership between Daniel and Kyle (Hodges) gave us the hope we could still win the game,” Dickson said.
The Bombers will face Nyah District in the preliminary final on Saturday.
