VTCA 2018-19: Glenroy to be promoted from Division 2 after Steve Goodwin takes eight wickets in semi-final victory

Eight wickets in a semi-final. 327 wickets in six seasons. Glenroy’s spin magician Steve Goodwin left Werribee Centrals bamboozled to earn his side promotion from VTCA Division 2.

Steve Goodwin took eight wickets in Glenroy’s semi-final win. Picture: David Smith

Who else but Steve Goodwin?

The prolific leg-spinner earned Glenroy promoted from VTCA Division 2 with eight wickets in the club’s semi-final victory over Werribee Centrals.

CONDON GUIDES STRATHMORE TO FIRST SENIOR DIVISION FINAL

DOUTTA STARS BACK FOR SHOT AT GRAND FINAL REDEMPTION

WEST SAINTS WIN THRILLING DIVISION 1 WEST SEMI-FINAL

SCOTT SANDERS LAUNCHES BRUNSWICK TO VSDCA FINALS VICTORY

Goodwin has snared an incredible 327 wickets in six seasons at Sewell Reserve, taking his tally for this summer to 56 with a haul of 8-44 from 17.5 overs on Saturday.

Werribee Centrals’ batsmen had no answers for the veteran tweaker, who took eight of the last nine wickets after skipper Anthony Greaney (1-20) landed an early blow.

“He was just a class and a half above them,” Greaney said.

“He just cleaned them up. They tried to come down the wicket to him, they tried to play him from the crease.

“They tried everything and he just had an answer for everything they threw at him.”

Centrals scrapped to 114 and bowled their way back into the contest by reducing Glenroy 6-89 with 25 runs still required.

Steve Goodwin backed up his eight-wicket haul with 34 not out. Picture: Jay Town

After being sent in as a nightwatchman on day one, Goodwin produced an unbeaten 34 and combined with Sarwar Khawar (43 not out) on Sunday to steer the Roys into the grand final.

“The semi-final is the hardest game of the year. They’re just so cutthroat,” Greaney said.

“They were in a position with runs on the board and it doesn’t matter what you have, you’re in front and things happen.

“Steve came out as a nightwatchman and was an experienced head who did the job.

“After eight-for, to do that, he was absolutely man of the match by a mile.”

Glenroy was 6-161 when stumps were called after a 72-run partnership between Goodwin and Khawar.

The Roys will face Altona Roosters in the decider after the fourth-placed side upset minor premier Newport-Digman in the other semi-final.

The Roosters prevailed by seven wickets when the finalists clashed in Round 7 and edged home by three wickets in their most recent meeting in Round 14.

“I’ve always believed we worked hard enough to be in the division above,” Greaney said.