VSDCA 2018-19: Teenager Swapnil Challa overcomes finger injury to spin Preston to victory over Kew
Teenager Swapnil Challa defied doctor’s advice to lead Preston to its fifth win of the VSDCA campaign with his maiden five-wicket haul on Saturday.
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Teenager Swapnil Challa defied doctor’s advice to lead Preston to its fifth win of the VSDCA campaign with his maiden five-wicket haul on Saturday.
Challa passed a fitness test on Saturday morning after he had been all but ruled out of day two of the Bullants’ clash with Kew, having been struck on the hand while batting last weekend.
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“There’s a bit of a story behind that,” coach Alex Lewis said.
“He called me on Tuesday and said ‘I can’t come to training, the GP has told me I can’t train as I have got a fracture of my finger on my right hand’.
“He wasn’t supposed to play at all. We had a 12th man all lined up.
“Then he manages to rip out a five-for and bowl 21 overs with a hairline fracture in his bowling hand.”
The hosts were cruising at Victoria Park, reaching 1-81 chasing the Bullants’ total of 181, when 16-year-old off-spinner Challa removed set batsmen Michael Kelliher (36) and Nick Chamberlain (37) in quick succession.
He bowled Kelliher to end his 72-ball innings and had Chamberlain caught by Daniel Gregory five runs later.
The Round 12 match was still up for grabs when Kew rallied to 5-124 after paceman Dalis Thomas (3-33) claimed two middle-order scalps.
But the fixture turned in Preston’s favour again when Matthew Anderson (2) was caught by wicketkeeper Cody Lawson off Sri Lankan all-rounder Chaminda Vidanapathirana (2-31).
Challa added the prized scalp of Kew skipper Chris Weeks (9) to his victims, finishing with 5-33 from 20.4 overs.
He picked up the last three wickets, also removing tailenders Jacob de Paiva (2) and William Sist (1) to clinch a 37-run triumph for the Bullants.
“It’s one of those moments where you show a bit of heart and help get your team over the line,” Lewis said.
“As a 16-year-old, that’s an amazing effort.”
Challa has 14 wickets at an average of 17 in his debut First XI campaign, having joined Preston from Box Hill Reporter District club Yarraleen.
Preston will finish outside the finals spots, sitting eighth on the ladder with 33 points after Round 12.
The Bullants will be favoured to finish the North-East campaign on a high when they host bottom side Endeavour Hills in a one-day fixture this weekend.
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