Tara Murray
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Sydenham-Hillside in its Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 semi final.
Facing Doutta Stars, the minor premiers were able to get the job done with a day to spare to seal a grand final spot.
Storm coach Geoff Pretty said he had only ever played in one final before that had finished on day one.
“It’s exciting and it’s another opportunity,” he said. “It’s another challenge no matter who we play, St Francis or Sunshine.
“We couldn’t have scripted it much better. The boys were fantastic.
The Stars won the toss and elected to bat. They were bowled out for 96 with more than 39 overs remaining in their innings.
Stefon King took 4- 34 off his 14.4 overs, while Tim Grech took 2-13 off nine overs.
Pretty said the bowers did exactly what they asked of them.
“They were very disciplined and very patient with how they went about it,” he said. “The bowlers did a fantastic job keeping them to a moderate total.”
The Storm batters quickly set about chasing down the runs, reaching the total one wicket down.
The Storm was 2-194 at stumps.
“The batsmen did the job in the second half of the day,” Pretty said. “First it was to get the runs and then be as few wickets down at stumps as possible.
“See where the game went from there. The ball was in Doutta Stars court.”
The Stars decided to call the game, meaning the teams didn’t have to go back on day two.
Pretty said there were arguments to continue the game and also finish it early.
“We would have been happy to come back on day two,” he said. “We were prepared to play two-day cricket.”
Pretty said he was planning to catch a bit of the other semi final between St Francis de Sales and Sunshine on Sunday, as well as watch the club’s fifth’s which are still in finals.
A premiership for the Storm would be their fourth in five seasons, having been in the VTCA for just seven seasons.
Pretty said every year they had to continue to keep getting better.
“Even if you’re staying in a division, you have to step it up with two new sides every year,” he said.
“It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about building the right culture, a winning culture and hopefully it leads to sustained success.
“Success will only be measured by a premiership next week.”
The Storm will face St Francis de Sales in the grand final after a big win against Sunshine.
The Crows were bowled out for for just 118 on day one with Troy Stone top scoring with 33.
St Francis made the runs with ease, finishing 2-124.
