Subbies cricket: Elsternwick stuns Caulfield with eight-run victory in qualifying final

Elsternwick had only 125 runs to defend against Caulfield but in a shock result it dismissed the minor premier for 117 at Caulfield Park.

Elsternwick came from tenth in the final round to make the VSDCA finals.

And today the Wicks came from nowhere to defeat minor premier Caulfield in a remarkable upset in the VSDCA qualifying final at Caulfield Park.

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Defending only 125, Elsty hustled out the minor premier for 117 to rush through to the last four of the south-west section.

The club last won a First XI premiership in 1919-20 — 99 seasons ago.

“You never know,’’ captain Cam Christiansen had said before the start of play on the second day.

“We might get a couple of early wickets and send a few shockwaves through them and get on a bit of a roll from there.’’

Caulfield had resumed at 0-26 and subsided from 0-44 to all out for 117 as Elsty’s pacemen swept through like a summer storm.

Matt Shimell (4-64 off 20.1 overs) and Will Smith (3-20 off 11) split Caulfield apart once openers Graeme Rummans (32) and Sam Anthony (15) had been separated.

Smith, finding swing, removed Anthony and Shimell had Rummans LBW.

Andrew McGorian got involved later with 3-13 off 14 overs as former Elsty player James Small (24) tried to keep Caulfield afloat.

Will Long on the attack for Elsternwick.

Small was the last man out, Shimell’s fourth scalp, as the Fielders crashed and burned before the Wick attack.

“Matty and Will and Andy bowled exceptionally well, and made it really tough for them to score,’’ Christensen fizzed after the match.

“It’s a funny game, isn’t it? I can believe it because our guys are really committed and I knew what we were capable of. I don’t think we’ve produced it this year, with the bat in particular. Our bowling group has been really solid, even without runs on the board. The wicket wasn’t that easy to bat on …. I think today’s proven that. Will’s spell was really important. We’d put Rummans down and everyone was down in the dumps. We’d gone a little bit quiet. He came on and used the conditions and picked up that first wicket. That got things going. We just needed a bit of belief. We’re a young side — eight guys under the age of 25 — and sometimes you need a sniff. ‘’

Christiansen said supporters were chuffed.

“That’s the best thing about these sort of results,’’ he said.

“A lot of people do a lot of amazing work around the club, put their heart and soul into it, and they’re here at Caulfield having a drink and a great time. That’s the most satisfying part of it.’’

Caulfield’s Liam Campbell strives for a wicket. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Sunday’s stunner came after Caulfield had dominated the visitors on Saturday.

Elsty had opted to bat on Saturday but were quickly under pressure, with paceman Lachie Graf knocking over Patrick Gorman for one.

Andy King took over from Graf and in his third over won an LBW shout against Gorman’s opening partner Brad O’Shea, who was quick to lift his bat to the umpire and suggest he’d hit it.

O’Shea had to go for nine, marching off with the air of a man who would struggle to keep his emotions in check once he reached the changerooms.

Christiansen, playing his 200th match for the club, has a fine record against Caulfield.

And everything he did suggested he had another big score in him, twice lifting Fielders skipper Jacob Thorne over the fence, but alert for singles to turn over the strike.

At the other end Elsty No 4 Rizul Chhabra (2) poked at Liam Campbell’s medium pace and was caught by Sam Anthony at slip.

Frustration for Caulfield skipper Jacob Thorne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Will Long joined Christiansen in what shaped as Elsternwick’s key partnership.

Without ever getting on top of the bowling, they batted steadily and sometimes stylishly, as when Long creamed Thorne through mid-on for a boundary.

Then came a heavy blow for the visiting team. Graf, whose first six overs brought him 1-2, returned to the attack and grabbed the wicket of Christiansen (33), the right-hander nicking a ball outside off-stump.

Soon after Graf twinged his hamstring in his approach to the wicket and was unable to complete his ninth over. He had 2-2.

Elsty were 4-76 at tea, but when play resumed they lost Long for 16, bowled by Dale Denny.

And from there Elsternwick struggled against disciplined bowling supported by sharp fielding.

Thorne picked up late wickets to finish with 3-37 off 16.4 overs.

King (2-24 off 10.4 overs), Campbell (2-20 off nine) and Graf knocked off the best of the batting.

But the real knockout blow came on Sunday.