National Twenty20 championships: Carlton crowned champions after thrilling win over Uni of Queensland

Carlton and skipper Evan Gulbis held their nerve in a thrilling final to be crowned Australia’s premier Twenty20 side on Wednesday.

Carlton celebrates its one-run win in the national T20 final. Picture: Dean Martin

Evan Gulbis was as cool as a chocolate milkshake.

Nervelessly and brilliantly, the Carlton captain bowled his team to the inaugural National T20 title last night, delivering a superb last over to hold out the University of Queensland in the final at the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.

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The tournament between the states’ best T20 teams came down to the last ball, with the Queenslanders needing three runs off it to take the championship.

Two would have sent the match to a super over.

But Mitchell Fry could only get the final delivery to short cover for a single, giving the Blues a one-run victory — 8-154 to 7-153 — and silverware deserving of a team of its rich and ripe talent.

The Queenslanders needed 11 off the last over, and then six off four balls.

Gulbis, bowling his right-arm medium pace full and straight, restricted them to four singles as Carlton grittily protected its total.

Asked what he had told his team ahead of the final over, the skipper said: “There was not much talking. It was just hoping it came together well. Fortunately it did.’’

The Blues were sent in and Gulbis (28 off 20 balls) and Brayden Stepien (25 off 28) raised 51 for the opening stand.

Outstanding from @vicpremcricket club Carlton. The Blues are the inaugural national T20 champions, defeating Uni of Queensland by one run. Final came down to the last ball delivered by skipper Ev Gulbis.

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) March 6, 2019

After they were dismissed Carlton struggled through the middle overs, with Tom Smyth, Nick Ross and Harry Smyth falling cheaply. The Blues were wonky at 5-84.

But Donovan Pell and Lachlan McKenna dipped into the bowling with a 58-run stand, Pell caning 43 off 27 balls, with 2 sixes and 3 fours, and McKenna lacing 2 sixes and 1 four in his 27 off 20 deliveries.

Carlton looted 65 off the last five overs, sailing past 150. It needed every one of its 8-154.

The Queenslanders opened their reply by blitzing 18 off Carlton paceman Aaron Smillie’s first over, left-hander Jack Carty twice heaving sixes through the leg-side in the manner of Matthew Hayden.

But Smillie removed Carty with the first ball of his second over, perhaps fortunately with an LBW decision.

From there captain Dominic Michael controlled the University of Queensland innings, bringing up his 50 with a mighty strike over long-on from the bowling of Blues left-arm spinner Eddy O’Sullivan.

Carlton pulls off a late run out in its victory. Picture: Dean Martin

A direct-hit run-out from McKenna to dismiss Ben Davis was a lifter for the Blues heading into last two overs.

The Queensland team needed 16 from 12 balls, but Smillie delivered a fine 19th over the Blues.

He had Jano Coetzee smartly caught behind by Stepien and removed key man Michael (75 off 54 balls) with a slower ball that he sliced to Xavier Crone to short third man.

In a fine hand, the left-hander put away 7 fours and 2 sixes. And after being clattered in his first over paceman Smillie had put up 4-28 off his four overs, a man-of-the-match effort.

It came down to the last over — and Gulbis came through for the Blues.

“Look, we’re just rapt to get the result. It’s been a fantastic couple of days. A great initiative to be out here … the best teams all playing in one spot, it’s been great,’’ he said.

Gulbis said of the Pell-McKenna partnership: “The boys played extremely well. They hadn’t had a bat in the previous game and so it was probably unknown territory a little bit. But the boys got it done. I was so proud of them.

“It’s great to get back to Melbourne and the whole club can embrace being the best T20 team in Australia.’’

Evan Gulbis' T20 summer for @CarltonCCScores@VicSuperSlam - 289 runs @ 48. 7 wickets @ 20. HS 102 off 61. #NPT20Champs - 210 runs @ 105. 6 wickets & 21. HS 107no off 56. pic.twitter.com/Eegpys3G5v

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 6, 2019

Carlton had lost the final of the Victorian Super Slam to Dandenong at the MCG, but as Conference winners both clubs qualified for Adelaide.

The Blues defeated the University of Queensland in their opening match and saw off Dandy in their second, largely due to an unbeaten 61 from Gulbis and Tom Smyth’s superb 51 off 26 deliveries.

Gulbis’s punishing 107 not out off 56 balls, studded with 10 fours and 5 sixes, and 77 from Tom Smyth highlighted the semi-final victory over Sutherland.

By designation and by deed, Gulbis led by example.

Carlton celebrates being crowned the best Twenty20 team in Australia.

“His carnival was magnificent,’’ coach Warren Ayres declared this morning.

“He batted so well in every game and he bowled exceptionally well and his captaincy was terrific … just a great performance over the two days from Evan.

“We’re really happy as a club. We’ve been there and thereabouts for a number of years … I said to the players we just had to keep knocking on the door and sooner or later it would open. They’re all very happy and they all deserve some success.’’

Carlton will now fix its focus on trying to claim its first Premier flag since 1980-81.

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