Aberfeldie takes first silverware of the VTCA season, winning T20 grand final

Jackson Kight fired on the big stage as Aberfeldie claimed the VTCA T20 title on Sunday and now sets its sights on a historic Senior Division title.

Aberfeldie celebrates its VTCA T20 premiership win. Picture: Aberfeldie SC Facebook

One trophy down, one to go?

Aberfeldie claimed the first silverware of the VTCA season on Sunday, winning the T20 title by five runs against defending champion Haig Fawkner.

Jordan Kight was the hero, smashing 53 from 61 balls before taking 2-20, as Abers defended 5-119 at Clifton Park.

Needing 11 from the last over, Warren Parker was caught in the deep on the penultimate ball and Haig was held to 6-114, sparking wild celebrations from the home crowd.

Boom off-season recruits Kight and Zac Mevissen played key roles, Mevissen holding his nerve bowling the final over of the match.

“It’s almost a regular thing that what Kighty achieves goes unnoticed,” coach Sohan Boralessa said.

“On Saturday he was up for it, he was talking about performing on the big stage and he’s been doing it right through from the start.

“He’s an amazing talent and we’re very lucky to have him.

“Mevo bowled the last over … they needed six to win off the last ball, the ball before Warren Parker hit it to long off and Will Wright took a good catch in the deep.

“If he hadn’t have got to it it would have been a six and the game would have been a lot easier for Haig.

“It was a crucial catch and Will held his nerve in front of the crowd, he had to compose himself and he took it well, then I managed to field the ball on the last ball to seal the game.”

T20 captain Cam West hit 27 from 27 balls and Josh Docking finished unbeaten on 11 from eight balls.

Khalid Hassan was Haig’s best bowler, claiming 2-19.

Aberfeldie wicketkeeper James Jeffery. Picture: George Sal

Joshua Docking in action for Aberfeldie. Picture: Julian Smith

It caps a remarkable turnaround for a club that played last season without a home ground and only survived relegation due to Strathmore’s shift to the VSDCA.

And the trophy hunting isn’t over for Aberfeldie.

The T20 final could be a Senior Division grand final preview as well with Abers and Haig Fawkner sitting one-two with one game left in the home-and-away season.

Boralessa said Sunday’s win would only add fire to the club’s premiership ambition.

“It was a great day for the club, to host the grand final and then win it,” he said.

“The (Senior Division) is obviously our main focus.

“I think we’ve ironed out a few things, we had a few hiccups and dropped some points, but we also wanted to try some different combinations going into finals.

“We’ve got a lot of options this season, it gives us a lot of flexibility with our First XI.

“The focus is back on this week, the boys will be back at training on Tuesday, and we want to get our hands around the trophy.”

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Boralessa revealed the T20 team had been used as a pathway program this season.

“This season our focus for the T20s was to use it as a pathway program for our juniors,” he said.

“We had five First XI players playing and the six were generally from the under-16s and juniors coming into the senior set-up.”

Aberfeldie has one hand on the Senior Division minor premiership after a 15-run win over Sunshine United on Saturday, while Haig Fawkner cemented second place with a four-wicket win over Keilor.