Cricket Southern Bayside 2020-21: South Caulfield win premiership

South Caulfield has beaten Beaumaris in a gripping Cricket Southern Bayside Championship grand final series, with pace duo Lachlan Mahon and Henry Hall starring.

South Caulfield players and officials show off the premiership cup. Picture: Ron Weil

South Caulfield had to overcome Beaumaris, temperamental weather and two weekends of grand final intensity before hoisting the 2020-21 CSB Championship division premiership cup.

In the end, South captain Will Russell showed great skill to steer his side to victory in game three of the grand final series at Banksia Reserve on Sunday afternoon.

In somewhat of an anticlimax, a wide gave South Caulfield victory, South reaching 3-90 off 24 overs in reply to Beaumaris’ 89.

“It would have been nice to hit the winning runs but I’ll take it anyway,” Russell, who finished 40 not out after going in at 2-12, said.

South Caulfield coach Gerard Cull, captain Will Russell and chairman of selectors Matthew Stahmer. Picture: Ron Weil

The best-of-three grand final series began last week, with South Caulfield winning game one in a thriller on the Saturday.

Rain washed out the second game on Sunday, and again prevented play six days later on Saturday.

It meant that the flag was up for grabs on Sunday, with the winner to be crowned premiers.

Beaumaris won the toss and batted and slumped to 2-2 after Henry Hall made two key strikes.

The Sharks never recovered and were dismissed in the 36th over.

Joint players of the grand final series Lachlan Mahon (left) and Henry Hall. Picture: Ron Weil

Former St Kilda paceman Hall collected 3-21 off 8 overs and his offsider Lachlan Mahon was brilliant, taking 4-13 off 8.

The pair later shared the medal for player of the grand final series.

Mahon’s three GF games yielded figures of 3-21, 2-13 and 4-13. Hall took 3-8, 1-17 and 3-21.

The pair poured pressure on Beaumaris’ batsmen, never letting up.

Russell said his bowlers’ exploited the conditions on Sunday.

“There was a fair bit in the pitch but we did bowl really, really well,” he said.

“It wasn’t moving all over the place but it was doing just enough. The first three wickets were all bowled, it set it up.

“To get them out for sub 100 was just unbelievable, really. Awesome.”

Captain Will Russell, chairman of selectors Matthew Stahmer, Ron Weil (club photographer), Lachlan Mahon and Henry Hall.

South Caulfield’s run chase had its own minor wobbles, with Jye Sampson and Lewis Mildenhall falling cheaply.

But Russell joined opener Josh O’Donnell (23 off 60 balls) in a vital 58-run third wicket partnership that took South to the brink of victory.

“You’re always a bit nervous...chasing in a final,” Russell said.

“But myself and Josh O’Donnell, we just thought let’s get literally 10 runs at a time.

“As we got a bit closer we felt we had them and it was great from that point on.

“When we were needing 20 to win we were pretty comfortable.”

Russell’s 58-ball innings included four boundaries and took his season tally to 560, at 80.

It was Russell’s second season as captain, and he’s taken South Caulfield to runners-up and now a flag.

“It’s a massive difference in emotions,” he said.

“I’ve got better as a captain this year. It takes time. This year has just been a pleasure. To play with the 10 other boys has been an absolute pleasure.”