Keon Park wins through to first NMCA Jika Shield grand final since 2011-12
Keon Park is into its first NMCA Jika Shield grand final since 2011-12 after a nail-biting win and is eyeing a drought-breaking premiership.
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Keon Park is one win away from its first NMCA Jika Shield premiership in more than a decade.
The Parkers’ last top-flight flag came in 2011-12 and a nail-biting three-wicket win over Preston Baseballers on Sunday secured the club a place in the grand final in a fortnight.
Jake McSwain was the hero, taking 2-31 before a match-winning 39 not out, to guide his team to victory.
Baseballers posted 124 all out before Keon Park found itself in massive strife at 5-36 at stumps on Saturday after Daniel Castrucci (5-57) ran rampant with the new ball.
However, a watchful knock from Aidan Le Gassick (25 from 122 deliveries) blunted the Baseballers attack and McSwain and Navtez Singh (12 not out) got the minor premiers home.
Parker captain Jordan McNamara said the win showed his team’s resilience under immense pressure.
“It’s very exciting for the club and all the players involved,” McNamara said.
“They’ve been the benchmark.
“As you can see on the scores, we were in trouble early at 5-36, but were lucky enough to have resilience in the batting.
“We’ve played together for quite a while now, over eight years I reckon, and everyone has matured and that’s when you play your best cricket.”
Charlie Mitchell (27) and Daniel Wilson (26) top-scored to help Baseballers avoid a total collapse.
McNamara (3-32) and Juy Smith (3-29) were the main destroyers.
Castrucci then ripped through the Keon Park top order before Le Gassick steadied the ship and McSwain finished the job.
“Jake’s a special talent, he can turn a game on its head,” McNamara said.
“With the bat, he hits the ball that hard, we’re scared to bowl to him in the nets.
“A man that size, the way he hits the ball, anyone would be scared.
“Aiden played his role superbly, he’s come back this year and his composure at the start of the second day was really important.
“We needed to see off their bowlers, on a really hot day, which made it easier for Jake and Nav to come in and get the runs.”
McSwain is Keon Park’s leading run-scorer, totalling 564 this season at an average of 51.27 – ranked third in the competition, while Aftab Merchant is ninth overall with 362.
McNamara lead the attack with 29 wickets, also ranked third in the competition, while Smith has 28, Singh has 13 and McSwain has 12 to all be in the top-20.
Keon Park’s last premiership was back-to-back but the club has waited 13 years since.
It made two Jika Shield semi-finals before being relegated in 2018-19.
The Parkers bounced straight back up with a Quick Shield grand final appearance the next season and made semi-finals again in 2021-22 and 2023-24 before finally breaking through on the weekend.
Opener Michael Smith played in that 2011-12 triumph over Rivergum, while Gary Moorcroft made a half-century.
McNamara said it would be “something special” if the club could salute.
They’ll face the winner of Baseballers and Old Ivanhoe Grammarians, who claimed an eight-wicket win over Donath in the semi-final.
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Grammarians captain Max McLean took 4-23 before peeling off a match-winning 100 not out to chase down Donath’s 192 in just 50 overs.
In Quick Shield, Fiji Victorian claimed a two-wicket win over Olympic Colts to book a place in the grand final, behind Baurel Dmello’s 4-29 and 43.
Colts will face Bellfield Bulls in the preliminary final after it knocked off Cameron by four wickets thanks to Thrinesh Lingala’s unbeaten 97.
Meanwhile in Kelly Shield, Northern Socials is through to the decider after a six-wicket win over Fiji Victorian Second XI, while West Preston kept its season alive with a thrilling two-wicket win over Keon Park’s Second XI.
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