2017 MPCA Grand Final: Simon Dart steers Red Hill to record-breaking win
FORMER Victorian batsman Simon Dart has produced one of the greatest grand final innings to guide a Melbourne local cricket club to its first district premiership in 31 years.
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FORMER Victorian batsman Simon Dart produced one of the greatest grand final innings in MPCA history to guide Red Hill to its first district premiership in 31 years on Saturday.
A defiant Dart made 133 not out — batting for almost 100 overs — as the Hillmen chased down Delacombe Park’s 307 at RH Hooper Oval to hoist the MPCA District flag.
Red Hill captain Simon Dart hits his highest score in big total against Carrum
Going into the third and final day of the decider, Red Hill resumed on 3-72, Dart on 20.
Many had Delacombe Park pegged as favourite.
But Red Hill and captain-coach Dart had other ideas, patiently chipping away at the target — and then, sensing the moment, Dart spectacularly cracking two successive boundaries to achieve victory with just 21 balls remaining.
“One of the greatest knocks you will ever witness,’’ Red Hill player Glenn Collett said. “It was clinical.’’
Red Hill finished 6-308 off 109.3 overs, with Dart and Lincoln Toy (7no) embracing as teammates charged onto the field. An exhausted Dart said he was proud of his close-knit team.
“I’m absolutely stoked for our young group coming through and to get the monkey off the back after 31 years and get a premiership for our cricket club … it’s icing on the cake for all the hard work,’’ he said.
Dart said he and his men never stopped believing, even after Delacombe Park made over 300.
“The belief was always there,’’ he said. “We knew that we’d chased seven times during the year and won. We just had to break it down, build partnerships and believe and that was the key element within or group.’’
Dart had plenty of support. Young all-rounder Brent Martin batted superbly, making 66 off 155 balls and sharing a 129-run partnership with his skipper to take the score from 2-42 to 2-171. Young Zimbabwean Carl Robinson, batting with a broken finger, chipped in with 23 off 45 balls, sharing a 72-run stand with Dart.
Nick Esipoff, a loyal Red Hill man, played a superb cameo, smacking 22 off 14 balls (with 1 six and 2 fours) as the Hillmen closed within sight of victory.
It was a sometimes spiteful grand final, and Dart absorbed plenty of jibes. He said it only made him more determined.
“They poked the bear and that was the wrong way to go about it,’’ Dart said. “In the end they crossed a lot of lines and that’s cool; I mean they’re playing hard. I think that was the wrong approach and I think the result was evident to see.
Red Hill’s last First XI premiership was in 2013-14 when it won the Sub-District title.
Red Hill’s premiership side: Simon Dart (captain), Nick Esipoff, Glenn Collett, Rheede Hopgood, Brent Martin, Jamie McCall, Carl Robinson, Andrew Mock, Matthew Merifield, Lincoln Toy, Tom McCarthy. 12th man: Bailey Squire. Scorer: Elvin Atkin.
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