Victorian Turf Cricket finals are just two weeks away and with them comes a shot at redemption for three of Brimbank’s strongest clubs.
Keilor, St Albans and Sunshine United were all left unsatisfied this time 12 months ago and now have the chance to make amends.
At Keilor, the Blues are looking to complete a remarkable turnaround since being relegated from the VTCA’s top grade.
After winning just three games in 2013-14, Keilor dropped down to the north division and wasted no time ensuring its stay would be as short as possible.
The club recruited Sri Lankan pair Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Upal Bandara, which has been an outstanding success.
Lokuarachchi has smashed 295 runs and taken 23 wickets, while Bandara has 249 runs and 41 wickets to his name.
Keilor coach Mick Andreadis said both players had made a huge impact.
“They’re good cricketers and we didn’t expect anything less,” he said.
“We have a lot of young boys and it’s good for them to see how experienced cricketers go about it.
“Upal has surprised me. I thought he was a bowler, but he has batted really well.”
Lokuarachchi and Bandara have been joined in the Keilor first XI by fellow Sri Lankan and second-year Keilor player Roshan Laksiri.
After starting the season in the seconds, Laksiri was promoted to the top side in the lead-up to Christmas and hasn’t looked back.
As well as being dangerous with both bat and ball, the all-rounder has also proved he doesn’t need a lot of sleep to be at his best.
“Before his first game he flew in to Melbourne at 3am on the Saturday,” Andreadis said. “He ended up sleeping in the clubrooms.
“To give him a bit of a rest we batted him a bit down the order.”
Laksiri went on to smash 144 and guide the Blues to yet another win.
With just one round before finals, the Blues are in the box seat to challenge for a flag.
The first XI is six points clear on top of the ladder on the back of three outright wins.
In a good omen for the club, the last time it played in north division was in 2012-13 and that season ended in a grand final victory.
North A1 side St Albans is also trying to rebound from an uncharacteristic 2013-14 season … after five consecutive years of finals, the Saints’ season was over well before March.
But opposition sides hoping for more of the same at Kings Park Reserve have been left disappointed and after 10 rounds the Saints are in a strong position to return to finals.
Club president Ian McKenzie says it’s great to again be in control of their own destiny.
“Last year we struggled after losing a few players, but I’m rapt we’re in this position,” McKenzie said.
“What happens from here is entirely up to us. If we continue winning we will stay where we are.”
While returning to the finals is a step in the right direction for St Albans, the club is in no way satisfied and after losing its previous five semi-final appearances the Saints are hunting silverware.
“It’s 30 years since we’ve won an A-grade premiership, and we’ve won only two in our history,” McKenzie said.
“We’re screaming for a premiership and are putting pressure on each year.”
West A1 club Sunshine United is making a habit of being at the top end of the ladder come the business end of the season although this coming finals campaign will be about redemption.
Having made the west B1 grand final last year, the Tigers came extremely close to lifting the premiership cup, only to fall just short against rival Sunshine Heights.
Because of a league restructure, United was promoted to west A1 and the club hasn’t missed a beat in its new surroundings.
While establishing themselves as a finals contender early in the season, it’s the Tigers’ post-Christmas form that should have opposition sides worried.
United turned into the terminators against St Andrews Footscray, Wyndhamvale and Footscray United, ripping through all three batting line-ups for under 100, and also enjoying wins against Newport Digman and Altona Roosters.
Tigers’ president Mark Dalrymple said a big aim for the club had been timing its run towards finals.
Dan Schuppan bowling for Keilor. Photo: Wayne Hawkins
VTCA Finals Game Breakers
Keilor
Dan Schuppan
Role: Bowler
Matches: 10
Wickets: 29
Best bowling innings: 5-12
Best bowling match: 8-37
Highest score: 86
St Albans
Tom Langley-Dunn
Role: All-rounder
Matches: 9
Runs: 187
Highest score: 40
Wickets: 33
Best bowling innings: 7-66
Sunshine United
Daniel Pace
Role: Batsman
Matches: 8
Runs: 411
Highest score: 105
50s: 1
100s: 2
