The ghosts of March 22, 2015, have finally been cast aside for Deer Park with the seizing of the 2017-18 Victorian Turf Cricket Association north-west B1 premiership.
The bitter memories of that fateful day three years ago came flooding back for the Lions on the final day of their thrilling 15-run grand final win over Williamstown CYMS at Ainsworth Reserve last week.
The two grand finals were eerily familiar, but poles apart when it came to the emotions of the Lions players post-game.
In the 2014-15 decider, Deer Park held a first-innings lead, albeit a narrow five runs in a low-scoring game.
The Lions could not capitalise, though, with Kingsville chasing down the 195 target.
One of the most heartbreaking days in Lions’ history has stuck with the players ever since.
In this season’s decider, Deer Park had a more significant lead of 50 after the first innings against Williamstown CYMS.
But the Lions’ poor batting in the second dig, scoring just 118 for a lead of 168, left the door ajar for CYs.
The CYs appeared to be marching to victory in a similar fashion to Kingsville three years ago – but this time Deer Park found a way.
The Lions managed to take the last four CYs wickets cheaply to hold on for a famous victory.
Lions president Stephen Krstevski was relieved to see the tide of the game turn – but it was far too close for comfort.
“We looked gone for all money at one point,” Krstevski said. “I had a chat to [all-rounder] Ricky [Suvada] and we could see they were six down and only needed like 25 runs.
“He said to me, it was like a flashback to the Kingsville grand final, it was all coming back to me. That still was really hurting us, so I think the boys were keen to make amends.”
The fourth-day heroes for Deer Park were club stalwart Suvada and Sri Lankan import Nilanka Vedagedara, who performed a late rescue mission with five wickets apiece.
In Vedagedara’s most impressive game for the Lions, he took 5-73 in the second innings to finish with eight wickets for the match.
“He sort of saved his best until the grand final,” Krstevski said. “He was really bowling with some heat in the second innings.”
Having been part of that 2014-15 grand final side, it must have been soothing for Suvada to play a match-winning role this time around.
“He really is the heart and soul of our club, the spiritual leader,” Krstevski said. “He just loves the club and wants it to do well. He’s a hard trainer, never misses a training session, so he’s a real leader.”
In a grand final in which runs were hard to come by, Tim Collins’ knock of 87 on day one will be remembered at Deer Park as one of the great big-occasion innings in the club’s history. It combined with 30 from Suvada and 31 not out from James Bonnici to allow the Lions much-needed breathing space.
“Tim took it to the CYs bowlers,” Krstevski said. “He went at it and really set it up for us on day one.”
No longer will that Kingsville game linger in the back of the minds of Deer Park people.
The Lions got their redemption and will now have some hazy celebrations to remember.
Deer Park will move up to the north-west A1 division, where it will once again come face to face with Kingsville.
