Victorian Super Slam: St Kilda and Carlton to meet in grand final
An ex-BBL big-hitter will play in two T20 grand finals — in different states — in 16 hours, starting with the Victorian Super Slam decider on Tuesday.
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He’ll try to blast the Blues to Super Slam silverware at the Albert Ground on Tuesday evening.
Hours later, Carlton skipper Evan Gulbis will be on a plane to Hobart to play in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League Twenty20 grand final.
He will line-up with Greater Northern Raiders in the CTPL T20 flag decider at midday on Wednesday at Bellerive Oval.
The lure of two premierships in 16 hours excites Gulbis and, in some ways, the hectic schedule matches his fast and furious style of play.
The former Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes BBL player is used to travelling.
He lives in Launceston with his fiancé Kristi and their two children, daughter Violet and son Pepe, and comes over each Thursday to run Carlton training, staying with his dad in Yarraville, before heading back to Tasmania on Sundays.
Carlton faces St Kilda in the Super Slam grand final this afternoon, starting at 5pm.
Hot weather — and play — is forecast at the Albert Ground.
It will be the third Victorian Super Slam grand final and Carlton’s third appearance in it.
In the first, Blues lost to Dandenong at the MCG but surged to the national championship in Adelaide. They defeated Richmond the following season (the series wasn’t played last year owing to Covid).
St Kilda, unbeaten in all formats this season, won all six of its Super Slam games to surge into the grand final.
In last week’s semi-final, the Saints eased past Casey South Melbourne’s 8-143, reaching 4-147 with 10 balls to spare.
Ed Newman cracked 70 not out off 50 balls and opener Michael De Iacovo belted 45 off 29 balls.
Big-hitting De Iacovo leads the Super Slam runs tally with 278, at an average of 69.50, with a strike rate of 140.4.
He set the comp alight with a blazing 105 not out off 66 balls against Northcote in the opening round.
De Iacovo has blasted 13 sixes and 26 fours this season.
Carlton has plenty of firepower, too, with Gulbis, Connor Rutland (202 runs at a strike rate of 146.4) and Nick Ross (176 runs at a strike rate of 166).
Rutland has also been outstanding with the ball, grabbing nine wickets at an economy rate of 5.60.
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