Airport West St Christopher’s defeat Haig Fawkner in the grand final
Two players new to Airport West St Christopher’s at the start of the season wrote themselves into the history books with one taking a hat-trick before playing his part in a “match winning partnership”.
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Thisara Dilshan will have a story to tell for the rest of his life.
His hat-trick for Airport West St Christopher’s in the VTCA Division 1 grand final against Haig Fawkner helped to turn the game on day one.
He removed Haig skipper Thilakamuni Soysa, Sithum Peiris and Samuel Kosmak at a key stage to have the visitors at 7-118 before they were all out for 165.
Dilshan wasn’t finished there either as he shared a crucial partnership with Ramindu Nikeshala (60 runs off 151 balls) on day two to guide his side across the line by three wickets.
A new player at the club this season, Dilshan finished unbeaten on 53.
His performance helped the Eagles break their First XI premiership drought which had extended back until the 2007-08 season and in the process earn promotion back to the Senior Division.
Club stalwart Bill Maddern couldn’t have spoken more highly of his influence.
“Ranga Cooray who has been at our club for a while now brought Thisara and Ramindu to the club at the start of the season with a couple of other guys he knew from playing in a Sunday competition,” he said.
“It was a pretty special performance from him. We thought 166 was going to be gettable but those two guys put together what turned out to be a match winning partnership.
“They were arguably our most two valuable innings of the season.”
It turned out to be the perfect weekend for the Eagles with the club’s Second XI also coming away with a premiership.
They also Haig to the sword by 119 runs as captain Scott Woolcock starred with 4-20 after Ben Sims posted an impressive 75 on day one.
It was the first time since the club amalgamated in 1992-93 both grades had secured the premiership trophy.
“It has been a long time coming,” Maddern said.
“They were both classic games in their own way, there was a lot of emotion involved.
“It was quite unique that both teams finished on top of the ladder as well. The hard work really paid off for everyone involved.”
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