Premier Cricket: Kingston Hawthorn seconds pull off stunning run-chase win

Former Hawthorn AFL player Oliver Hanrahan lashed a four off the final ball of the match to seal a memorable victory for the Kingston Hawthorn Second XI.

The Kingston Hawthorn Second XI players sing the song.

At Kingston Hawthorn, they’ll be talking about this match for a long time.

It might even be referred to as the “great chase’’.

The Hawks’ Second XI pulled off a stunning victory on Saturday when it reeled in Fitzroy-Doncaster’s 3-300 at Walter Galt Reserve.

They had needed 60 off the last five overs and 20 off the final over.

And they got there, off the last ball of the innings and nine wickets down.

Former Hawthorn AFL player Oliver Hanrahan hit the winning runs.

Kingston Hawthorn assistant coach Al Manning said it was a remarkable performance from his team, which had six players under the age of 21.

They included Corey Cater and Tyler Pearson, who both played for the club in the Premier Cricket Under 16 series last season.

“We took 21 off the 46th over and then we lost 2-3 in the 47th over, putting us nine (wickets) down,’’ Manning said.

“We took eight off the 48th and nine off the 49th.

“So we needed 20 off the last.

“We got five wides off the first ball, played and missed for a dot for the second ball, then the 16-year-old (Cater) cover drove a six and got a single.

“We needed eight off the last three. Oliver Hanrahan hit a two, then another two. So it came down to the last ball of the game. We had to get four to win and three to draw. And Oliver hit a four over mid-wicket to win it for us. They had a deep square leg and a deep cow, and he split them right in the middle. Amazing finish and unbelievable win.’’

Hanrahan, who has signed to play with Werribee in the VFL this year, was 19 not out off 14 deliveries and Cater was 16 not out off nine. They put on 39 for the last wicket.

The reply revolved around 18-year-old Prajay Paramesh’s even 100, which came off 99 balls and included 2 sixes and 15 fours.

Vithum Sathyajith (38), Matt Acocks (21), Jonathan Vincent (21), Saad Khattak (33) and Sen Sathyajith (20) all chipped in.

“The boys never gave up,’’ Manning said.

“All the way through they believed they could chase it (the target).

“When we lost a few wickets in the middle and needed about 100 off eight to 10 overs, it was looking shaky. But the last five overs were remarkable. Chasing 300 and you get 301, you’d take that any day of the week.’’

The players could enjoy a drink after the match after committeeman Darren Sheehan declared he would buy a slab of beer for them if they could reach the target.

Kingston Hawthorn’s Zack Richardson goes at Fitzroy-Doncaster. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The result was a lifter for the Hawks after the First XI squandered a strong position to defeat Fitzroy-Doncaster, coming in at 8-161 as they pursued 9-166.

Fast-medium bowler Zack Richardson, promoted from the Second XI, was exceptional with 4-26 off his 10 overs, with Lions star Jack Rudd (3) one of his victims.

With four changes due to injury and Covid, Dylan Jacotine was pushed up for a debut. He was 21 not out.

“We have to learn to win these sort of games when they are up for grabs,’’ coach Peter Marshall said.

“Thaveesh Attanayake (49) and Matt Vorbach (34) batted well and it was up to the middle-order to sign off.’’