Victorian Premier Cricket: Carlton defeats Melbourne in qualifying final

Carlton’s Big Bash batsmen went bang as the Blues made a rollicking start to the Premier Cricket finals, beating Melbourne.

Carlton’s Mackenzie Harvey started the finals in stylish fashion. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Most thought they’d be meeting in the grand final.

But the dream showdown between St Kilda and Carlton will come a week earlier, in the preliminary final this weekend.

The Saints suffered a surprise loss to Casey South Melbourne in a qualifying final last Saturday but bounced back to beat Footscray in a semi-final on Sunday.

Carlton had a smooth passage to the preliminary final by comfortably seeing off Melbourne in a qualifying final on Saturday.

Blues skipper Evan Gulbis’ preparedness to take risks paid off as they downed the Demons.

Firstly, he made himself available to play — which looked highly unlikely when he could barely walk, let alone run, just days before the game due to a knee injury.

Then, at the toss, Gulbis took another chance by sending Melbourne into bat.

Within 15 minutes of the start, Melbourne had lost key batsmen Sam Harper (11) and Blake Thomsen (0), both dismissed by Gulbis.

The Demons were always on the back foot and eked out 152.

Gulbis, with adrenalin allowing him to play with injury, claimed 4-21 off 5.5 overs in an outstanding finals display.

Carlton bowler Xavier Crone. Picture by Steve Tanner

Cameron Stevenson (2-29) and Xavier Crone (2-21) also impressed.

In reply, Carlton coasted to victory with seven wickets and almost 20 overs to spare, making 3-155 off 31.4 overs.

There was a hiccup early when Gulbis fell first ball of the innings, caught at point from a leading edge.

But the Blues’ Big Bash experienced batsmen Mackenzie Harvey and Brayden Stepien quickly took control, taking the score to 0-90, before Stepien was out for 58 off 61 balls (10 fours).

Harvey also hit 10 boundaries as he made 66 off 80 balls.

It was left to Harry Smyth (16no) and Nick Ross (6no) to finish the job.

Brayden Stepien. Picture: Arj Giese

Stepien has been playing club cricket in Tasmania but qualified for Carlton’s finals campaign by playing four games during the season.

“We knew that the opportunity was going to be there,” Gulbis said of Stepien being available for finals.

“Clarence missed out on the finals this season which is unusual for them, so we knew a fair way out that it was potentially going to happen and he’d already qualified throughout the year.

“He has been training with us for about a month because he has been living in Melbourne and flying back to Tassie to finish the season.”

Gulbis said he put Melbourne into bat because he wanted to “have a look” at the pitch.

“That was our tactic and it paid off,” he said.

“I don’t really think it was a bowl first or bat first type of wicket, I reckon it was pretty true most of the day.

“We played some really good cricket.

“It gives our batters time when you’re only chasing three an over, it’s more about getting yourself set and then batting well which I thought Macka and Steppo did really well and that iced the game.

“And the other two boys Harry and Nick got the job done.”

Evan Gulbis.

Gulbis said he spent the week leading into the game trying to get his body right to play.

“I’ve got a knee issue at the moment,” he said.

“I think it’s to do with sciatica because I had a back and hip issue the week before and it was shooting down to my knee.

“I couldn’t walk on Wednesday and I went for jog on Thursday and I couldn’t go five metres, that’s how bad I was.

“I saw a physio on Friday and he said you should be right to bat and because we won the toss we bowled I thought gee I better get out there. It actually felt okay during the game.”

So, it sets up a massive clash between the top two teams all season, St Kilda and Carlton, this Saturday.

The winner will progress to the grand final while the loser will be out, season over.

“Everyone is looking forward to this one,” Gulbis said.

“This is the game everyone wanted in the grand final and obviously St Kilda have ruined that so we get it in a prelim instead.

“In our minds we knew for us to win the premiership we had to beat Melbourne. We’ve done that, they’re gone. And now we’ve got to beat St Kilda. We’d rather do that this weekend than not have the opportunity at all.

“We want to beat the best.”