Premier Cricket 2018-19: Fitzroy Doncaster bows out of flag race

Fitzroy Doncaster’s bid for a fourth consecutive Premier Cricket grand final fell at the penultimate hurdle, crashing out of the flag race after a preliminary final defeat against Geelong.

Mitchell Reid hit his highest Premier Cricket score. Picture: Peter Ristevski

There was the trademark fight from Fitzroy Doncaster but this time there would be no thrilling finish.

The Lions’ bid for a fourth consecutive Premier Cricket grand final fell at the penultimate hurdle, crashing out of the flag race after a masterclass performance from Geelong captain Eamonn Vines and Mitchell Reid.

Vines and Reid shared a club record opening partnership as the Cats scored a 181-run win in the weekend’s preliminary final.

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The pair both hit centuries in a 287-run first-wicket stand to put Geelong on course for its first grand final appearance in 11 years.

All over at Geelong. @GeelongCC goes through to the @vicpremcricket final after @fitzdonc is bowled out for 240. Lions lost their last six wickets for 17 runs.

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) March 31, 2019

Nat Vardi moves to 50 - just his second half-century this @vicpremcricket season - but has passed 500 runs for the campaign in this dig. @fitzdonc making a fist of this mammoth chase at 4-177.

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) March 31, 2019

Reid crunched his highest score, 166 with 21 fours across 242 balls, while Vines hit 116 (12 fours in 211 balls) to post his 11th century before the Cats declared early on the second day at 8-421.

Their stand broke the previous best mark of 168 held by Luke Muller and Ian Redpath against Footscray in 2002-03.

Fitzroy Doncaster was on track to challenge the mammoth target at tea, when it had reached 4-203.

But teenager Brody Couch intervened.

Classy Cat Eamonn Vines hit his 11th Premier Cricket ton. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The right-arm paceman took five wickets in just 20 minutes as the Lions lost their last six batsmen for 17 runs to be bowled out for 240.

Couch finished with 5-44 from 9.2 overs.

Fitzroy Doncaster captain Ejaaz Alavi said the Reid-Vines partnership was the difference in the contest.

The Lions’ cause wasn’t helped when ex-state quick Andrew Perrin again suffered back spasms on day one and was limited to just seven overs.

“We probably didn’t bowl our best in the first two sessions and they batted really well,” Alavi said.

“They took all their opportunities and we know when you get in at Geelong there is plenty of runs to be scored. They didn’t give many chances either, so they batted really well and unfortunately we weren’t quite up to it with the ball and gave them scoring opportunities.”

Chris Moore looks for some movement in the wicket. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Jack Rudd (34) and Matthew Bremner (46) put on 76 for the first wicket but both departed shortly before lunch to leave Fitzroy Doncaster 2-82.

Nat Vardi topscored with 69 – his highest score of the season – to take his season tally past 500 runs for the campaign as the Lions threatened to challenge the imposing target.

Vardi shared a 49-run stand with Peter Dickson (21) and a 60-run union with Liam Banthorpe (34).

But wickets came with a flurry after tea.

It would have been a third miraculous finals victory if Fitzroy Doncaster had been able to reach the target after a one-wicket win and a last-over thriller in its previous two games.

“We believed from ball one, we had 90 overs to chase the 421 and we believed we were definitely a chance,” Alavi said.

Trent Lawford goes looking for a wicket. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“We tried to break it down into blocks of 50 and 100 and try get little targets as to where we should be at each stage, and we were in front of the targets in terms of run-rate throughout.

“Unfortunately, we just lost a couple of quick wickets before lunch … we just lost wickets at the wrong time. You need the big partnerships and we didn’t quite get that but I thought we competed really hard all game.”

Geelong will vie for its first premiership when it meets Carlton in the three-day grand final at the Junction Oval, starting on Friday.