Premier Cricket 2018-19: Fitzroy Doncaster falls to fifth after two-wicket defeat against St Kilda
Fitzroy Doncaster will have to take the long road to the Premier Cricket final if it is to win a third premiership in four years after a two-wicket defeat against St Kilda.
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Can Fitzroy Doncaster win the Premier Cricket premiership from fifth?
It’s going have to after a two-wicket defeat against St Kilda on Saturday, falling outside the top four for the first time this season.
Under the competition’s new finals format, the Lions will have to win three cutthroat finals if they are to advance to the big dance.
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Fitzroy Doncaster enters the finals series after dropping four of its last five games.
Sound familiar?
The Lions went on to win the 2016-17 premiership after losing four of their five games after Christmas.
Fitzroy Doncaster captain Ejaaz Alavi said he would reference that formline ahead of this weekend’s knockout final against Camberwell Magpies.
“We’ve had a lot of experience playing in finals as a group and that is something we can really use to our advantage,” Alavi said.
“We’re playing really good cricket, especially with the ball, but there is a lot of improvement as well that we can take. If we can play our best cricket next week, we’ll come pretty close.
“That’s the real positive for us that we’re playing well but there is a lot of improvement as well and we can play a lot better.”
Fitzroy Doncaster will need a greater output from its top six if it is to topple the Magpies.
The Lions have fallen to 6-100, 6-139 and 6-106 in recent weeks and, when the two sides met in Round 8, Camberwell had the Lions 6-80.
“We’re speaking about getting bigger partnerships and if we can partnerships to 50, partnerships to 100, keep it pretty simple with the bat,” Alavi said.
“If we can get away with the top six, we know in finals scores of 200, 250 on the board are always tough chases.”
Fitzroy Doncaster quick Trent Lawford opened the door for victory when he removed Josh Bartlett (11) and Jon Merlo (31) just before tea, leaving St Kilda 7-155 and still needing 26 for victory.
But captain Michael Beer dragged his team over the line to finish on 16 not out, unbeaten after a 47-ball stay to book St Kilda a home final this weekend against Monash Tigers.
“We were just trying to build pressure for as long as possible and outlast them. In the end it took them 82 overs to score 180 runs but unfortunately we just couldn’t get those wickets and create enough chances,” Alavi said.
“We made them earn every run so I thought it was a really good game of cricket and was a real finals-type atmosphere.”
Alavi declared his side could win four finals to win a third premiership in four seasons.
“It’s similar to the last few years where you’ve had to win every game, it’s just one more game that you have to win,” he said.