Essendon, Kingston-Hawthorn into Dowling Shield final

One of Victoria’s most exciting young talents has produced an outstanding all-round performance to guide Essendon into the Dowling Shield final against Kingston-Hawthorn.

One of Victoria’s most exciting young talents has inspired Essendon into the Dowling Shield final.

Bailey Toseland starred with bat and ball to guide the Bombers to a six-run win over St Kilda at the Junction Oval on Sunday.

The young all-rounder top-scored with 55 not out as Essendon posted 8-196 before snaring 5-30 as the Saints were dismissed for 190.

The Bombers will face Kingston-Hawthorn in the final after the Hawks defeated Fitzroy Doncaster by 27 runs.

Toseland is a member of Vic Metro’s under-17 squad, was selected in the Victorian National Indigenous Cricket Championships squad and has 11 wickets in 10 matches for Essendon’s Second XI.

A great win today in the nail biting Dowling Shield semi final v ⁦@StKildaCricket⁩. Bombers made 8/196 off 50 overs then bowled out St Kilda for 190, with just 3 balls to spare. On the GF in 2 weeks! ⁦@vicpremcricket⁩ pic.twitter.com/k4hjvpsk3D

— Essendon CC (@EssendonCC) February 12, 2023

Essendon Dowling Shield coach Hashad Dixit said the performance was a sample of his talent.

“Bailey is a quality player, plays in the Twos for (Essendon),” he said.

“He was phenomenal with the bat and took it on himself to bowl two of the last four (overs), which was pretty good from him. A spinner taking responsibility is very important.

“He’s a senior player in that group, it was brilliant all-round performance from him.”

Dixit praised his “team first” mantra, saying every player performed their role admirably.

Captain and opening bat Jessraj Badhaan got Essendon off to a strong start with 27, while Vic Metro batsman Lucas Cavigan added 20.

Paceman Archit Bhatia took the responsibility of bowling the final over and dismissed Nick Gillard with the second-last ball of the match to seal the victory, finishing with figures of 2-33.

“We played (St Kilda) in the first round and I thought we were on top in that match under rain interrupted and it was a tie,” Dixit said.

Congratulations to @HawksKH and @EssendonCC on qualifying for the Dowling Shield Final on Sunday 26th February. pic.twitter.com/ranK1F48Mj

— Vic Premier Cricket (@vicpremcricket) February 12, 2023

“We were on top and I think would have won if it had gone ahead, they were 2-99, before the thunderstorm.

“When they checked the Duckworth-Lewis score they needed to be on 2-99 and they were so it was a tie.

“We were very confident going in with our spin attack, they were in trouble with our spin in the first round, so we’d talked about the spin to win strategy.”

Cooper Rojko (40) and Reyaan Farooq (3-38) were St Kilda’s best.

The Dowling Shield final will be held at Kingston-Hawthorn’s Walter Galt Reserve on February 26.

The Hawks reached the final behind Hamish McKenzie’s well made 53, as they posted 9-223, and Sai Sehgal’s 4-25, with Fitzroy-Doncaster dismissed for 196.

Tajbir Powar is the club’s leading run-scorer in the competition with 176, while Sehgal and Herbie Fischbacher top the club with eight wickets.

However, Dixit is confident his players can get the job done.

“Our coaches have kept it very simple to take the pressure off them,” he said.

PREMIER: PLAYERS THREATEN TO WALK OUT ON CLUB

LEADER: GET YOUR PREMIER CRICKET NEWS HERE

PREMIER: ESSENDON QUICK GRABS CHANCE, MAIDEN FIVE-FOR

“They’re enjoying each other’s company, a lot of them play in the same team, so the camaraderie is great and that’s what is required in finals.

“We’re pretty confident going in to the match, we’re not over confident but we know what our roles are and confident in how to do them.

“The talent pool in our group especially, I can only talk for our group – St Kilda, Prahran, Casey and Geelong – the talent pool is brilliant.

“It’s great to watch the youngsters playing and the more matches they play the future is looking bright for Victoria.”