Haig Fawkner wins maiden VTCA Senior Division premiership with epic comeback
Haig Fawkner battled back from a Game 1 defeat to be crowned VTCA Senior Division premier for the first time with a 2-1 grand final series victory over Aberfeldie.
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Haig Fawkner’s climb up the VTCA mountain has reached the summit.
Mired in Division 4 10 years ago, the club has slowed climbed the competition’s ranks and claimed a history-making Senior Division premiership on Saturday, defeating Aberfeldie.
The remarkable come-from-behind 2-1 grand final series victory secured the club its first top-flight VTCA flag in its 90th season.
After losing Game 1 by 63 runs, Haig stormed home with five-wicket and eight-wicket wins in Games 2 and 3.
It also reversed this season’s T20 grand final result, which Aberfeldie won over Haig Fawkner by five runs.
Haig Fawkner captain Vaib Deshpande praised his teammates’ determination to fight back and win.
“It was a fantastic win, everyone in the team really stepped up after last Saturday’s (Game 1) loss,” he said.
“I’m really proud of everyone, how they dug deep and fought back.
“Everyone showed an immense amount of courage and fight to turn it around and kudos to each and everyone of the group to pull it off.
“The only thing I told them was to take the pressure off themselves and play the game and express the game as best they can, to go out and do what they do best – nothing out of the ordinary.”
Mohammed Naeem was awarded the grand final medal for his exploits with the ball, taking seven wickets across the series, including a match-winning 4-36 in the decider.
Dilan Soysa scored 59 and 46 in Game 2 and 3 and took six wickets behind the stumps, Shakeel Ahmad produced a brilliant 71 not out in the Game 3 victory and Jaspreet Bhatti a 67 in Game 2.
Haig legend Amit Chaudhary took four wickets and was second top-scorer in the Game 1 loss with 21 not out.
“Mohammed was absolutely fantastic, the way he’s bowled throughout the three games, it was incredible,” Deshpande said.
“He’s one of our strike bowlers and the way he stepped up in the big game – especially yesterday’s game when he took three wickets in the power play he really set us up.
“Our batters – everyone batted brilliantly and responsibly to see the game through – chasing throughout the season is something we’ve done really well, we’ve probably only lost the first final chasing.
“We’re really confident with our batting line-up and were really confident chasing and that’s how it panned out, so really happy with it.
“And what can I say about Amit, he’s been fantastic.
“The amount of energy he brings to the group, he brings everyone to together, I think he’s the glue that holds this team and the club together.
I think he’s spent 20 years in the comp, still going super strong, still so passionate about the game and now the second highest wicket-taker in the comp. He’s an absolute legend.”
This season isn’t the first time Haig Fawkner has triumphed over Aberfeldie in a grand final, the two teams clashed in the 2014-15 Division 2 decider with Haig emerging victorious that day.
The club then reached Senior Division with its Division 1 premiership in 2018-19 against St Francis de Sales.
“It’s fantastic to win the first flag for the club in Senior Division, everyone at the club is truly stoked about it,” Deshpande said.
“I’m very hopefully and really excited to have this bunch together when the 2022 season comes around.”
Shaifi Moazzem was Aberfeldie’s best player throughout the series, scoring 19, 45 and 52 in his three digs, while also taking 2-18 in Game 2.
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Cam West top-scored with 64 in the Game 1 victory.
Despite the defeat, it will be a season which Aberfeldie can look back on with immense pride.
The club spent 2020-21 without a home ground and only avoided relegation due to a Strathmore’s departure and a competition restructure.
It responded by winning 11 of 16 matches and establishing itself as a future force in just its second season in the top flight.
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