VSDCA 2018-19: Scott Sanders hits 85 from 66 balls to launch Brunswick to finals win over St Bernard’s

Scott Sanders launched Brunswick to a breakthrough VSDCA finals victory with a counterattacking masterclass which put the club one step closer to ending a 31-year premiership drought.

Scott Sanders hammered 85 not out in Brunswick’s finals victory.

Scott Sanders launched Brunswick to a breakthrough VSDCA finals victory with a counterattacking masterclass which put the club one step closer to ending a 31-year premiership drought.

St Bernard’s had hope when it reduced the North-East group minor premier to 5-46 at stumps on day one, but a 48-ball half-century from Sanders launched Brunswick to victory chasing 107.

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Sanders played without fear from a tricky situation, taking 10 runs off one Steve Brne over and clubbing 16 from St Bernard’s skipper Luke Davis’ first over on Sunday.

There's the winning runs. @BrunswickCC1 ends a long wait for a First XI finals win by five wickets over @sboccc pic.twitter.com/86f6EtrLQP

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 10, 2019

His most audacious shot came from the bowling of Sri Lankan quick Arosh Janoda, flicking a lap sweep over wicketkeeper Blake Manassa’s head for six.

The Snowdogs ultimately paid the price for a poor batting performance as they crashed from 0-51 to be all out for 107 on Saturday at A.G Gillon Oval.

Tim Daykin took six wickets for Brunswick on Saturday. Picture: Kris Reichl

Openers Jordan Mills (30) and Tim Grant (21) had given their side the perfect platform to cause an upset from sixth on the ladder before spinner Tim Daykin (6-25) and paceman Leigh Brennan (3-46) turned the final on its head.

The visitors mounted a short-lived recovery after three top-order wickets fell cheaply to be 3-77, but when Daykin trapped Grant lbw it exposed St Bernard’s middle and lower order.

They had little answer for the off-spinner, who finished with the best figures of his 120-game Brunswick career.

Outrageous from Sanders. He lap sweeps Janoda for six off a full ball and @BrunswickCC1 is 18 runs away. This will be over by 2pm! @SubbiesCricket

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 10, 2019

Two wickets from Janoda and Luke Davis on Saturday had the match in the balance before Sanders’ stunning counter-attack finished the contest within an hour on the second day.

With a series of lofty blows and powerful cut shots to the boundary, Sanders smashed 85 from 66 balls before stumps were called with Brunswick 5-152 and the game out of St Bernard’s reach.

Justin Lampard (23 from 64) played the support act in a 109-run sixth-wicket partnership, taking advantage after he was dropped when the Wicks were 5-56.