Tara Murray
Deer Park capped off an almost perfect season in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, with the division 1 premiership on 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.
