Star Weekly has looked back at our editions and picked out a selection of our favourite stories from 2022, including…
Deer Park capped off an almost perfect season
in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, with
the division 1 premiership last Sunday
The Lions lost just one game across the
one-day and T20 competitions this season, and
even that was by just one run.
So entering the best-of-three grand final
series with St Francis de Sales, coach Mick
Andriadis was confident they could get the job
done.
The Lions needed just two games to seal the
premiership.
“It’s good we don’t have to come back next
week,” said. “The boys were terrific and led by
our captain Ricky Suvada and vice-captain
Angelo Emmanuel. They were brilliant.
“Ange’s batting. He batted for 70 of our 80
overs. He made himself the big finals player we
thought he could be.”
In game one, the Lions batted first making
201. Emmanuel top scored with 83 at the top
of the order.
Andriadis said it wasn’t the easiest batting
conditions.
“It was a bit of a tough wicket for the first 15
overs,” he said.
“Had we lost a few more wickets we would
have been hamstrung, but we were alright.
“The last 20 overs we batted fantastically
and scored up to 200. It was psychological
advantage to get to 200.”
Andriadis said St Francis was always a
chance as long as Aaron Maynard remained at
the crease.
He was out for 88 with another 31 runs still
needed. St Francis was bowled out for 183.
The Lions lost the toss on day two, which
Andriadis said it wasn’t a bad result as they
weren’t sure whether they wanted to bat or
bowl.
Having to bowl first, the Lions restricted St
Francis is just 134.
“Roshon Primus had a brilliant opening spell
getting a couple of wickets including Aaron.
“We had then at 9-104, before they put on an
extra 30 runs.”
Primus finished with four wickets.
Andriadis was full of praise for 15-year-old
Lachie Fiztgerald, who had his best bowling
spell of the season, finishing with 1-10 off eight
overs.
Deer Park finished with 5-135. Emmanuel,
who scored 66 not out, was named player of the
grand final.
Andriadis said he always knew that the side
could have a season like this when he came to
the club ahead of this season.
“I always aim pretty high,” he said. “I said
to the president I don’t expect to lose a game
including the T20s.
“I was disappointed we lost that one game as
we made enough runs. We always wanted to get
into the senior division as quickly as we could.”
Next season will be the first time that Deer
Park has been in the senior division, having
made its way through the ranks.
Andriadis said they were looking forward
to finding out the player points situation, and
were hoping to add another big name recruit
if possible.
