DDCA 2018-19: St Brigids St Louis completes stirring underdog run by winning T20 grand final against Berwick

St Brigids St Louis made history and completed the greatest underdog story of the summer with a rousing win in the DDCA Twenty20 grand final against Berwick.

St Brigids St Louis premiership team after its DDCA T20 grand final win. Picture: Supplied

St Brigids St Louis completed a rousing run of victories in the Dandenong District Cricket Association T20 competition on Wednesday night when it knocked over powerhouse Berwick in the grand final at Shepley Oval in Dandenong.

Embracing the tag of “giant killers’’, the Saints became the first Turf 2 club to win the title when they overhauled a testing target of 7-159.

Only two weeks ago Berwick had won the Cricket Victoria Regional Big Bash at the MCG.

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Saints skipper Jeremy Heys (20no) cracked a six off the fourth ball off the final over delivered by young Bears spinner Isaiah Jassal to lift his team over the line with three wickets standing.

Patrick and Mark Jamieson of St Brigids St Louis with the DDCA T20 premiership. Picture: Supplied

Heys took control of the finish after the dismissal of Matt Hayes for a dazzling 65 off 40 balls.

In a splendid chase, the Saints never let the asking rate get beyond nine runs an over and kept their poise even as Berwick stalwart Jarrod Goodes delivered a pressure-applying 19th over.

St Brigids St Louis received an $1100 cheque and a premiership cup courtesy of tournament sponsor The Dandenong Club.

It also received much applause for carrying off three consecutive victories over Turf 1 clubs, starting with Springvale South in the quarter-final, Buckley Ridges in the semi-final and finally Berwick in the decider.

Buckley (seven titles), Berwick (three) and Springy South (two) had been the only other clubs to win the T20 premiership.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the boys. We’re ecstatic for them,’’ president Noel Fitzgibbon said this morning.

“Most of them have been around for a long time — Jeremy Heys, Mark Jamieson, Patty Jamieson, Liam Harris — and haven’t had much silverware. To beat the big boys in the T20 is a great reward for them.

“It will go down as one of the best wins for the club ever. It’s sensational for the club.’’

St Brigids St Louis captain Jeremy Heys shows off the silverware. Picture: Supplied

He said the Saints were a “tight-knit group and play for each other’’.

“They all play their part. They love playing cricket with each other and doing their bit to win the game. They love the T20.’’

Fitzgibbon said the celebrations carried on until midnight.

The Saints lost their first match of the tournament to Berwick by 92 runs, defeated Cranbourne in Round 2, lost to Doveton in Round 3 but beat Springvale in Round 4 and Narre Warren in Round 5 to advance to the last eight.

Springvale South captain and DDCA board member Craig Slocombe said St Brigids St Louis’s success in the T20 as a Turf 2 team was tremendous for the association.

He said it should give confidence to clubs outside of Turf 1 that they could compete with higher-placed opponents.

“They play good T20 cricket,’’ Slocombe said.

“They set their fields, they bowl full and straight, and they back their plan for 20 overs. They don’t waver from that.

“When they bat, they go and they keep going and they keep going, a lot of the time with good cricket shots.

“They’ve gone out and knocked off three Turf 1 clubs who are sitting in the top four … fantastic effort from them.’’

Slocombe said the DDCA was chuffed with the turnout as it sought to make the grand final a marquee match at Shepley Oval.

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