Premiership glory is finally in the gloves of St Albans Cricket Club.
The Saints catapulted to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s north A1 flag on Sunday, defeating Taylors Lakes in the grand final.
After losing the toss and being forced to bowl first, St Albans looked destined to be chasing a mammoth total as Taylors Lakes moved to 0-55 through a brilliant opening partnership by Dilan Chandima and Michael Brne.
Then a wicket to Paul Hetherington opened the door for a comeback.
Hetherington sent Brne packing and St Albans spinner Geeth Alwis entered the fray.
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Having spent most of the season bamboozling batsmen, Alwis saved his best for last, taking 6-31 from 29 overs. His spell included 16 maidens – a stranglehold on the run rate. Despite Alwis’s best efforts, Taylors Lakes continued to fight and posted 139.
St Albans’ president, Ian McKenzie, said the turning point came after tea on the first day.
“I think there were only about eight or nine boundaries for both innings, so you really had to work hard in the middle,” he said.
“The wicket was good, but the outfield was very slow. To get a boundary you had to take a risk and go aerial, and neither team really wanted to do that.
“After tea on the first day, we bowled sensationally and also got two great run-outs, which turned the game in our favour. They lost about 8-40 and in that two-hour period our bowlers were great.”
Wells top scores
St Albans had little trouble reeling in the target, bringing up the win in the 60th over for the loss of five wickets.
All-rounder George Wells was top-scorer for St Albans, while Alwis secured man-of-the- match honours, guiding his side to the win with 40 in the middle order.
“In the chase we were cruising, with George in and plenty of wickets in hand, but you never know with grand finals … it becomes a bit more mental,” McKenzie said.
“George went out and we lost another wicket three overs later.
“Geeth came in and he just knew what to do. He’s so professional; he batted well, bowled well and is a real chance to take out the medal for best player in the division.”
The premiership win breaks a 31-year drought for the Saints at first XI level, their last flag coming in 1984-85.
The Saints are also elevated to the VTCA’s north-west division.
Given how they’ve played this season, McKenzie says he sees no reason why the club can’t maintain its successful run.
Meanwhile, for Taylors Lakes, while they didn’t get the win they most wanted, 2015-16 will go down as a season of remarkable improvement.
Elsewhere in VTCA, South Caulfield defeated Greenvale to take out the premier division decider.
