Subbies finals: Elsternwick noses Melton in epic match to reach Sub-District grand final
Elsternwick last won a Sub-District premiership almost 100 years ago. Now it has produced a miraculous run of victories to reach its first grand final in more than 40 years.
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What started for Elsternwick as a cheeky run has developed into a bold charge to the Sub-District grand final.
Elsty, without a First XI premiership for almost 100 years (1919-20), were 10th on the ladder going into the final round of the south-west section.
Results went their way and they finished sixth — with a losing record! — with a mere .0781 percentage advantage over Ormond.
And now?
After fabulous wins over Caulfield and Melton, the Wickers are into this weekend’s grand final against Oakleigh, adding a fairytale element to the last match of the season.
They last contested a decider in 1965-66.
Heck, even Elsternwick old-stager Brad “Boss’’ O’Shea wasn’t born then.
The Wickers defeated Caulfield by eight runs in the qualifying final and yesterday held out Melton by three runs in an enthralling finish at MacPherson Park.
Melton, chasing 228, needed 11 runs off the last over with one wicket standing.
With three needed off two balls, Elsternwick keeper Josh Gorman gloved a Matt Shimell delivery, ran to the stumps and made a run-out.
Elsty captain Cam Christiansen called it an “amazing’’ match.
“Incredible game. Any final that goes down to the last over is,’’ he said.
“The end was a bit like the World Cup semi between Australia and South Africa. Everything was happening. It was crazy. But Matty (Shimell) bowled a couple of dots and then Josh Gorman held his nerve at the end. He was really quick and had that awareness.
“Full credit to Melton. They were very patient. Their plan was to take it really deep and they did that.
“(Ben) Macrae batted superbly (for his 64). It was full of amazing moments, incredible catches by our guys and handy run-outs.’’
Sam Roney took a blinder at fine leg, over his shoulder, Shimell caught Macrae at mid-wicket after the opener had laced a pull shot, and O’Shea snaffled a sharp chance in the slips.
Elsternwick’s pace attack again came through, with Andrew McGorian taking 3-60 off 21 overs, Will Smith 3-30 off 18, Shimell 1-50 off 21 and Callum Sinclair 1-34 off nine.
On Saturday Christiansen again led from the front, toughing out 42 to take his season tally to 630 runs at 45.
Veteran O’Shea, playing his last season of cricket, hit a valuable 40 from the opening slot and Will Long put up 52.
Grand final fever has swept over Elsty.
“It’s undeniable. I’m getting messages left, right and centre from people going through the (records),’’ Christiansen said.
“That’s fine. That’s for everyone to talk about. It’s a great story obviously. But there a few guys in our team who have only played half-a-dozen games for the club. I’m sure they’ll take in the history this week. But really it’s about this current group and what we can achieve this weekend. We’ll focus on playing our best cricket.’’
In the grand final, Elsty will come up against a finals-proven Oakleigh, which condemned minor premier Caulfield to a straight-sets finals exit.
Dropped at second slip off the bowling of Oaks star Alex Jones when he was 17, Caulfield champion Graeme Rummans went on to 104.
But his teammates fell around him and he was last man out with the Fielders dismissed for 163 in reply to 204.
Left-armer Jones, who by tea had bowled 20 overs off the reel, was superb with 3-49 off 27.3 overs.
Mick Splatt took 3-37 off 22, and the sight of him rattling Caulfield captain Jacob Thorne’s stumps sent an electric charge through the hosts.
Jeremy Devlin claimed 2-31 off 12 overs and Shane Townsend (2-23 off seven) slipped in with the wickets of middle-order pair Adam Warren and Dale Denny.
Rummans faced 218 balls, put away 6 fours and 1 six, and ended the season with a club-record aggregate of 743 runs at 61.9.
But in the finals too much was left to the leftie: he made 136 out of Caulfield’s finals runs tally of 280; the other wickets produced 144.
Just as Caulfield leaned on Rummans, Oakleigh turned to its captain Brendan McGuinness for runs, and the big-match specialist hit 51, to go with his three previous scores of 94, 70 and 61.
Christiansen said the Oaks were a formidable team, well led by McGuinness and with an experienced core of players.
“No doubt we’re going to have to play our best cricket to get the result,’’ he said.
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