Over 50s cricket: Victoria meets South Australia in Division 1 final

Victoria has made the final of the Veterans Cricket Australia Over 50s cricket championships in Adelaide. See who’s been starring.

Matthew Drain has led Victoria to the championship final in Adelaide.

On several occasions this week Victoria has been swaying on the ropes at the Australian Over 50s cricket championships in Adelaide.

But the Vics have refused to hit the canvas, their fighting spirit lifting them into the championship final on Thursday.

Victoria — chasing back-to-back national titles after triumphing in Perth in 2019 — faces hosts South Australia in the decider at Woodville Oval.

Victoria’s captain Matt Drain says his side has earned a shot at the title and can go all the way.

“I can’t see why not,” he said.

“It’s really on the day, any cricket final. But the fact we were perceived to be in the group of death which included New Zealand, who brought over a fairly handy team, and NSW, they looked to be the favourites, according to most, and we knocked off both of them and won our three games, we’ve got to give ourselves every chance based on that form you’d think.”

Chris McDonough has been a key contributor for the Vics.

There have been some splendid performances by the Vics in the preliminary rounds.

Mt Eliza paceman Chris McDonough has played starring roles in Victoria’s three wins, especially with his tail-end batting. He’s contributed 27no, 29no and 11no to be the Vics’ second highest run scorer.

“Chris McDonough has helped get us over the line twice with his batting,” Drain said.

“He had a partnership of 65 on the first day with (Richie) Saniga that got us to 180 and we ended up winning by 20 odd runs.

“On Tuesday he hit 18 off the last over and we won by 21 runs, so he’s been a really good batter and he got some more runs on Wednesday when we were under he pump. And he’s a been a been a key bowler for us, too.”

Mulgrave tall paceman James Morris took 4-6 off eight overs in the Vics win over Tasmania on Wednesday. That followed hauls of 3-35 and 3-24 in the first two rounds.

“He’s six foot seven and bowls medium fast which is kind of unusual for this age,” Drain said of Morris.

“He hits the wicket really hard.”

Players at a “meet and greet’’ gathering at the Adelaide Oval.

Grant Dew, from the Thomson club, has taken 4-14, 1-28 and 3-10 in three games.

Caulfield batter Rohan Pike has been in the runs but it was his brilliant fielding, with two run outs, that was pivotal in the win over Tassie.

Drain said Victoria’s fielding was “pretty good for our age”.

“It’s one thing we really concentrated on,” he said.

“We got two run outs on Wednesday. That really made a difference.”

Victoria’s Second XI, playing in Division 2, failed to make the final, despite a gripping win over WA on Wednesday, when Alan Jones and Michael Lombardi peeled off unbeaten half centuries to finish the carnival on a high.

*The Veterans Cricket Australia Over 50s Veterans Cricket Championships featured 42 teams across five divisions. Games were played on Adelaide’s 30 finest turf wickets.