Evan Gulbis brilliant with bat and ball as Carlton ends Essendon’s Premier Cricket season

Evan Gulbis’ brilliant all-round performance has guided Carlton into the Premier Cricket grand final and put an end to Essendon’s season with skipper Clint McKay lamenting one that got away.

Matt Doric in action for Essendon against Carlton.

A superb all-round performance from Evan Gulbis has knocked Essendon out of the Premier Cricket title race.

The Bombers simply had no answer to the Carlton all-rounder at Princes Park, as he carved out 130 with the bat before snaring 6-45 with the ball.

Rain was a constant threat over the weekend and the Blues were bowled out early Sunday for 257, leaving the Bombers with 72 overs to chase the runs.

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An awful mix-up saw James Seymour run out for just two and when record-breaking opener Aaron Ayre was out for 14, the Bombers were in deep trouble at 3-31.

Michael Hill (51) and Isaac Willett (30) steadied the ship but Gulbis dispatched both to put Carlton in control.

It brings to a close an impressive season for Essendon as it claimed the Premier club championship for the first time since 1968, while Ayre became the first batsman in club history to score 1000 runs in a Premier season.

Evan Gulbis in action for Carlton.

Clint McKay appeals for a wicket.

Essendon captain Clint McKay lamented the loss but remained upbeat.

“It was quite a disappointing day … I thought 250 on a nice wicket was definitely within our reach,” he said.

“Once again, something to do with Carlton, every time we play we don’t quite get over the line.

“But I think, if you look at the season as a whole, it was quite a successful season. Aaron Ayre breaking 1000 runs and the club record, James Seymour broke the previous club record as well. Matthew Doric taking 45 wickets.

“Also finishing second on the ladder for the First XI group is something to be very proud of and went a long way to winning the club championship.

Carlton and Essendon clash in front of the Melbourne skyline.

“There’s many positives but a disappointing finish to a game that I think we should have won and would have set us up next week to win some more silverware.

Doric finished with 5-81 while McKay bowled unchanged on day two to finish with 3-75.

McKay said the club had a bright future.

“Every year there’s changes. I think if you don’t have changes in some respects you’re not moving the club forward,” he said.

“It’s very exciting times for the club. We always speak about not just short-term success, we want sustained success for a long period of time and the club’s in a great position to achieve that.”

Carlton will meet Geelong in the three-day grand final.