Essendon claims first Dowling Shield since 1986-87, beating Kingston Hawthorn

A brilliant batting display from Zach Beniwal inspired Essendon to a drought-breaking Dowling Shield title, beating Kingston Hawthorn.

For the first time in 36 years, Essendon is the Dowling Shield champion.

The Bombers claimed their first elite underage premiership since 1986-87 with a commanding 98-run win over Kingston Hawthorn at Walter Galt Reserve on Sunday.

It’s the club’s third title, having also won in 1982-83.

Zach Beniwal was the hero with the bat, scoring a match-turning 92, as Essendon posted 8-249, before Paawan Sharma took 3-21 as the Hawks were dismissed for 151.

Walking to the crease at 3-67, Beniwal combined with Archit Bhatia (52) for a defining 123-run sixth-wicket partnership.

His 99-ball innings lasted two hours and included eight boundaries and a six.

“It was brilliant, we always knew he was a quality player,” Essendon coach Harshad Dixit said of Beniwal’s performance.

“If we won the toss we wanted to bat first and get runs on the board and that’s how it played out.”

Herbie Fischbacher was Kingston Hawthorn’s best with the ball, finishing with 3-57, including the wicket of Beniwal.

Kingston’s chase started poorly, falling to 2-5 and 4-30 before Tajbir Powar was able to steady the ship in a 55-run partnership with Sakshm Pathania (21).

The young Hawk reached 50 before becoming Sharma’s first victim of the day, all but clinching the game for Essendon.

Opening bowlers Agamjot Sandhu (2-14) and Bhatia (2-29) also impressed with the ball.

“Paawan was bowling against the wind, he’s our front-line leggie,” Dixit said.

“He bowls with quick pace and has great control over his balls so we were backing him to break that partnership and he did, which was brilliant.”

Essendon skipper Jessraj Badhaan was the fifth-leading run-scorer in the pool matches and finished the campaign with 231 runs at 38.50.

Bhatia claimed eight wickets in the pool matches, equal seventh overall, but was dominant in the semi-final and final and finished with 12 scalps at 19.17.

Combined with their performances for Essendon on Saturdays, Badhaan, Beniwal and Sandhu all have more than 500 runs this season.

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Sharma is the club’s leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps across all competitions, while Sandhu and Bailey Toseland are also in the top-five.

Dixit is confident the Bombers’ young talent means a bright future for the club.

“Most of them are playing for us already and the rest will play for us next season,” he said.

“The sky is the limit for these boys, so I’m sure they will go from strength to strength in the coming years.”