Cricket Southern Bayside: Clayton Districts wins Division 2 flag

After being surprised in the finals last season, Clayton Districts hit back to win the premiership and promotion.

Clayton Districts celebrates its Division 2 flag.

A few hoorays for the Clays.

Clayton District earned its first senior premiership and promotion in Cricket Southern Bayside when it defeated Parkdale United in the Division 2 grand final at Jack Meade Reserve on Saturday.

It set the seal on a season in which the Clays lost only two of their 14 one-day matches and finished 16 points clear on top of the ladder.

They were expected to win the premiership and they did by cracking 6-243 off their 40 overs and dismissing United for 188.

A spectacular knock from opener Prabhjot Singh highlighted the premier’s innings.

Right-hander Singh blazed 65 off 35 deliveries, with 10 fours and 2 sixes, dominating the first-wicket partnership of 78 with Brendan Lazarus.

No 3 Alex Kerr (3) went cheaply but classy left-hander Lazarus (81) and Ash Plozza (30) put on 90 for the third wicket to keep the pressure on the United attack.

Lazarus hit 81 off 93 balls, with 8 fours and 3 sixes.

Runs flowed in the late overs through coach Jak Jowett (27 off 19, with 2 sixes) and captain Rohan Best (25 off 19).

Jak Jowett lets one go for the Clays.

As he was all season, Calum Ravesi (3-51 off 18 overs) was the best of the Parkdale United bowlers.

United put in a commendable chase, giving 200 a nudge after third-wicket pair Ravesi (47 off 69) and James Grande (57 off 66) added 65.

But the innings slipped away once Yuri Ryaboshapka dismissed Ravesi.

Right-arm medium pacer Ryaboshapka, who with Best joined the Clays from McKinnon before the season, went on to collect 4-29 off six overs.

Clayton Districts had the premiership when Shawn Street (2-32) bowled Cameron Beck.

The Clays were the dominant side of Division 2, having three of the top four batsmen on the run list.

Singh headed it with 493 at 35.2, with six half-centuries.

Lazarus was second with 440 at 44, including a century (105no) against Cheltenham.

And Jowett was fourth with 398 runs at 39.80.

The Clays bunch after a wicket.

The former St Kilda and Dandenong Premier opening bowler showed his ability with the bat by cracking 108 not out against Parkdale United in Round 10.

The Clays also had two of the six leading bowlers in the section.

Left-arm spinner Best nabbed 28 wickets at 9.86 and Trent Thompson grabbed 23 at 16.9.

Jowett took 14 wickets but beat the bat dozens of times with his left-arm pace.

It was the club’s first First XI premiership since 1999-2000, under the coaching of Gary Scott in the VTCA.

The Clays were flag favourites last season after finishing as minor premier but lost to fourth-placed Chelsea, which went on to win the title.

“Absolutely we were disappointed,’’ Clayton Districts committee member Satbir Singh said.

“We went out and topped up our leadership (with Best) as well as our coaching (bringing in respected former Premier Cricket head coach Barry Nievandt as a specialist batting coach).’’

The club fielded three senior teams this season but could have gone with four and will do so in 2021-22.

Its junior brigade is also looking strong, with a lot of youngsters attached to the Blast programs, three Under 11 teams, an Under 13 side and a combined Under 15 team.

“We’re really lucky to be in the area that we’re in,’’ Singh said.

“They’re cricket-mad, and the kids who started with us when they were four are now 10, 11 and 12. And in a couple of years they’ll be ready to play lower XI senior cricket.’’

Clayton Districts Division 2 premiership team: Prabhjot Singh, Brendan Lazarus, Alex Kerr, Asjh Plozza, Jak Jowett, Navdeep Singh, Rohan Best, Shawn Street, Rasdev Singh, Trent Thompson.