KEALBA-GREEN Gully had a hint of deja vu as it hit the repeat button for back-to-back flags in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association’s top-flight George Luscombe Shield.
The Cougars wasted no time on the third day, removing the last three Pascoe Vale Central batsmen to secure a 45-run win in Saturday’s low-scoring grand final at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve.
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Cougars playing assistant coach Evan Long said it was no mean feat to return to the big dance, defend their crown and do it against the side they beat on the same occasion 12 months earlier.
“I’ve always said it’s nice to win one, but when you’re the team to beat, you’re last year’s premiers, it’s always tougher to come back and deliver the goods again,” he said.
“When that last wicket happened, we were ecstatic and there was a bit of relief, too.
“We went through some ups and downs this year and had to work really hard for it.”
The Cougars had to be weary after making just 151 on a rain-soaked first weekend. Had it not been for Warren Kelly (56) and Matt Nadzielski (32), they would have been staring down the barrel. Kelly, in particular, held the innings together with an uncharacteristically patient knock.
“He stood up when it counted,” Long said. “He’s a naturally aggressive batsman, so he sort of had to curb his enthusiasm, so to speak, and was very much trying to bat through the innings and stem the flow of wickets.”
Once Kelly and Nadzielski were back in the pavilion, the Cougars middle order crumbled.
Their saving grace would come from an unlikely pairing Divesh Kumar (11 not out) and Tristan Krizanic (18), who featured in a 25-run 10th-wicket partnership.
The Cougars just passed 150, but when they had Centrals 2-2, they felt the pendulum swing their way.
“Our last two batsmen put on a handy partnership, which swung the momentum our way,” Long said.
“Then, in the first five overs when we were bowling, we had them 2-2, so all of a sudden 151 didn’t seem too bad.”
It would turn into a train wreck for Centrals. Their chase was full of mine bombs with wickets falling at regular intervals, leaving them in a state of disarray at 8-70.
A late fightback from tail-enders Darren Barker (20) and David Barron (14) made for a nervous finish for the Cougars.
Danny Viani broke up that partnership before man of the match Nadzielski took his fourth wicket to land the premiership.
“It was a bit nerve-racking, but we got the job done,” Long said.
NWMCA GRAND FINAL SCORES
Luscombe Shield: Pascoe Vale Central 106 (M Nadzielski 4-36 J Catania 3-23 D Viani 2-22) lt Kealba-Green Gully 151 (W Kelly 56 M Nadzielski 32 D Tripp 6-62 D Barron 3-19)
NWCA Shield: Craigieburn 150 (R Singh 3-27 G Nedelkoski 3-46 A Abdullah 2-33) lt Kealba-Green Gully 4-152
Musgrove Shield: Donnybrook 6-138 d Taylors Lakes 134 (L Williams 37 P Grech 33)
Barron Shield: St Albans 1-71 (R Lee 25no) d Aberfeldie 67 (M Manning 5-14 J Manning 5-41)
Knight Shield: Buckley Park 132 d St Albans 114
Girolami Shield: Aberfeldie St Johns 113 (S Considine 3-16 R Martin 2-15 C Goring 2-18 MD Murphy 2-26) lt Sunshine YCW 5-114 (H Andrew 39no C Tripoli 36)
