The Kealba-Green Gully dynasty is alive and thriving following a premiership four-peat and a sixth flag in seven seasons in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association Luscombe Shield.
The Cougars made it four in a row with a nail-biting 10-run win over Buckley Park in the grand final at Green Gully Reserve.
Cougars fans were on the edge of their seats until veteran Danny Viani claimed a caught and bowled to spark wild celebrations.
Cougars captain-coach Evan Long said the taken half chance “wasn’t anything spectacular” but was a huge relief.
“We just needed something to go to hand and luckily enough the half chance popped up and Danny took it,” he said.
Kealba-Green Gully posted 209 off 80 overs, despite enduring a dramatic batting collapse. The Cougars were cruising at 2-169 before they lost 6-5 to be in trouble at 8-174.
A late flurry of runs from Travis Barratt, who made 27, ensured the Cougars moved beyond 200.
Earlier in the day, the top order fired with Matt Nadzielski top-scoring with 61 and Dave Rogowski providing support with 26 in a 78-run opening stand.
Long (35) and Rohan Laksiri (48) then featured in a crucial 80-run partnership before the collapse.
The defence of 209 was not going to be easy against a powerful Buckley Park batting line-up.
Nadzielski fought hard to take 2-36 off 11, despite a hamstring complaint. His fellow new ball operator, Laksiri, was economical with 1-28 off 15.
The unlikely hero with the ball was Long with his medium pace, snaring 4-42 off 23 overs, including the prized scalps of Wes Telford and Mark McPherson.
“Four in a row and six out of the last seven, it sounds pretty good when you keep saying it out loud,” he said. “It sends a tingle down the spine, thinking of what we’ve achieved.”
