Eastern Cricket Association: STC South Camberwell wins another Twenty20 title

STC South Camberwell continues to show an affinity for the shortest form of the game, wrapping a third Eastern Cricket Association T20 championship with a win over Old Carey

STC South Camberwell continues to show an affinity for the shortest form of the game, wrapping a third Eastern Cricket Association T20 championship with a win over Old Carey at the Carey Sports Complex in Bulleen on Sunday.

Skipper Sam Fairbother, one of the unlucky ones who had to work on Monday, was forced to keep his celebrations in check on Sunday night.

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STC South Camberwell celebrates its T20 grand final win

“We celebrated reasonably well,” he laughed. “There were a few sore heads on Monday morning. We haven’t had the greatest season, it looks like we’ll miss finals. So this helps.

“I think the crowd would have been more than 400, which is great. Normally we’re used to having a couple of people walking their dogs of a Saturday afternoon.”

The McGibbon Shield side has an impressive record in the association’s T20 competition.

“For some reason, T20 cricket has clicked with the club,” Fairbrother said. “We’ve always had a core group that has stuck together. We’ve had five guys who’ve played in all three. You just know what each other is thinking and what they’re doing.

“But, you always need a little bit of luck.”

Old Carey, from the turf competition’s second-tier Wright Shield, won the toss and elected to bat first.

But the STC South Camberwell attack grabbed early wickets and refused to release a vice-like grip, holding the home side to just 9-69 off its 20 overs.

Fairbrother praised his side’s effort with the ball and in the field.

“The bowling and fielding this season has been fantastic,” he said. Ben Rodan was fantastic, he took three in three overs and when you take four or five quick wickets, it makes the job much easier.

“Then Steve O’Connell took one of the catches of the season. It helps when you hold your catches.”

Rodan finished with 3-8 of three overs while Lawrence Colman, 2-8 off four, was handy in support.

STC South Camberwell skipper Sam Fairbrother Picture: Hamish Blair

STC’s chase got off to a stuttering start when Murray Smith nabbed the openers, Xavier Wigg (2) and Tom Casha (0), with just four runs on the board.

“We lost two early ones, when you are chasing a smaller total it’s sometimes harder than chasing a big one,” Fairbrother said. “You play a bit cautiously.

“But Mark Shallue and Beau Coyle put on 30 or 40 and I came in with a few left to get at the end.”

Coyle was unbeaten on 40 from 52 balls with 6 fours, the standout knock of the day.

Smith finished with 2-8 and Tad Merry 2-7 as Old Carey threw everything at STC in the early overs.

STC South Camberwell reeled in the target for the loss of four wickets with eight balls remaining.

With the prospect of missing finals this summer, Sunday’s win was well received by the club.

“We’re a club that’s had a lot of success in the 10 years I’ve been there, five MacGibbon Shields and the three T20s I think,” Fairbrother said. “We’re a very proud club, so any chance to win a grand final we always strive to do.”

Fairbrother said the club would now look to progressing in the statewide T20 competition.

“Two seasons ago we were fortunate to play in the statewide stuff and made it through to the semi-finals against Cranbourne,” he said.

JUNIOR DOUBLE FOR KEW

In the earlier junior curtain raisers, Kew Junior was celebrating a two-from-two afternoon with both its under-16 and under-14 sides winning the grand final.

Kew Junior got up in the under-16 clash when it batted first, carding 4-100, and then dismissed Canterbury for 95 with two balls remaining.

An unbeaten 54 from Matthew Dahlsen bankrolled the Kew innings while skipper Michael Forwood (30) did his best to get Canterbury over the line in the face of tight bowling from William Troy (2-8), Hayden Woodhouse (2-10) and Will Stevens (2-13).

In the under-14 decider, Kew won the toss and sent Boroondara to the crease.

Boroondara ran up 6-105, led by captain Patrick Forrest (28) while Gabriel Di Ciero was devastating with a haul of 4-13.

In reply, Kew Junior needed 18.5 overs to reel in the target for the loss of six wickets, an unbeaten 51 from Will Westcott setting up the successful run chase.

ECA T20 CUP

Old Carey v STC South Camberwell

Carey Sports Complex (Sunday, February 17)

OLD CAREY

R Khera c MR Shallue b B Rodan .............5

M Still c S O’Connell b B Rodan .............3

DC Clarke c T Bach b A D’Addazio ........12

C Still c MR Shallue b B Rodan .................0

T Gayfer c & b L Colman ........................12

JD Devine run out (B Rodan, X Wigg) .......2

T Merry b C Dooley .....................................8

S Morarty lbw b S Fairbrother .....................1

M Smith b L Colman ....................................3

R Singleton not out ......................................12

B Jowett not out ...........................................1

Extras (nb 0, w 3, b 0, lb 7) 10

TOTAL 9-69cc

Overs 20.0

Fall: 5 (R Khera) 16 (C Still) 16 (M Still) 29 (DC Clarke) 32 (JD Devine) 41 (T Gayfer) 43 (S Morarty) 48 (M Smith) 63 (T Merry)

Bowling: C Dooley 4-0-1-15 B Rodan 3-0-3-8 A D’Addazio 3-0-1-13 X Wigg 2-0-0-8 L Colman 4-1-2-6 S Fairbrother 4-0-1-12

STC SOUTH CAMBERWELL

X Wigg c T Merry b M Smith ..................2

T Casha c M Still b M Smith ....................0

MR Shallue c JD Devine b T Merry .......13

B Coyle not out .........................................40

S O’Connell c JD Devine b T Merry ........0

S Fairbrother not out ...................................8

A D’Addazi

L Colman

T Bach

C Dooley

B Rodan

D Hando

Extras (nb 1, w 7, b 0, lb 1) 9

TOTAL 4-72

Overs 18.4

Fall: 1 (T Casha) 4 (X Wigg) 47 (MR Shallue) 53 (S O’Connell)

Bowling: M Smith 4-0-2-8 B Jowett 2-0-0-11 M Still 2-0-0-8 T Merry 4-1-2-7 S Morarty 1-0-0-9 C Still 4-0-0-21

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STC South Camberwell takes on Cranbourne in a regional semi-final at Schramms Reserve in 2017. Picture: Steve Tanner