Premier Cricket: Fitzroy Doncaster scores tense 17-run win over Ringwood

Fitzroy Doncaster’s 17-run win over Ringwood underlined the hallmarks that have made the Lions the benchmark of Premier Cricket for the past four years.

David King pushes one into the off-side. Picture: Andy Brownbill

You often hear it of the great sporting teams.

“They just found a way.”

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Fitzroy Doncaster’s 17-run win over Ringwood underlined the hallmarks that have made the Lions the benchmark of Premier Cricket in recent years.

The Lions looked destined for victory when they reduced the Rams to 7-87 early in the second session on Sunday in pursuit of 208.

But a maiden half-century from 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Hartill threatened to give Ringwood an unlikely victory on Sunday.

Trent Lawford bends his back. Picture: Hamish Blair

Hartill and Matt Fotia (23 not out) shared a 10th wicket stand worth 46, growing in confidence with every stroke that they would pull off a remarkable victory at Jubilee Park.

Hartill put on a 32-run stand for the eighth wicket with Brendan Walsh (14) and a 26-run union with Michael Topp (6) for the ninth peg before Fotia joined him in the middle.

Together the pair blunted Fitzroy Doncaster’s pace attack and looked untroubled against the spin of Ejaaz Alavi.

The new ball offered little seam or swing for a tiring Lions attack.

But shortly after tea, Sam Elliott trapped Hartill lbw on 69, which came off 149 deliveries and included 5 fours, as the Lions breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Some later expressed the ball may have been tracking down leg.

Ringwood captain Ian Holland said he believed the Hartill-Fotia combination would take the Rams to victory.

Ejaaz Alavi rolls the arm over. Picture: Hamish Blair

“They looked quite comfortable and that showed how flat the wicket became,” Holland said.

“In hindsight, that’s where we needed a few more in the shed and if we had a top-order batsman there at the end it would have been a different story.”

Holland said Hartill’s knock was beyond his years.

“He didn’t get runs early (in the season) but batted really well last week and built on that,” he said.

“He looked really well balanced, was hitting the ball really late and he just looks like he belongs.

“A real coming of age innings for him and it’s really exciting.”

A five-wicket haul from quick Trent Lawford reduced the Rams to 6-83 by lunch, a collapse of 6-51 in the first session after the home side had resumed at 0-32.

That became 7-87 when Zac Elliott grabbed a stunning catch, which will surely be added in the end of season highlights reel.

Elliott dived full length to his left in the gully to complete a sensational one-handed grab to remove Patrick Ashton (1), giving Lawford his fifth wicket.

The burly quick finished with 5-46 from 27 overs.

Ian Holland sends one down. Picture: Hamish Blair

But Hartill almost proved to be the hero for Ringwood before he was the last man out as the Rams were dismissed for 191.

On day one, Fitzroy Doncaster reached 2-130 on a batting friendly surface with Jack Rudd (69) and Nat Vardi (41) set at the crease.

But Michael Topp (4-39) and Brendan Walsh (2-28) combined to engineer a remarkable collapse of 5-2 before Sam Elliott rescued the sinking innings.

Elliott (50) hit his second half-century of the season in a 64-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Alavi (12 not out).

Alavi said the result showed his side’s fighting qualities.

“I think we bowled 90, 95 overs for 190 runs so it was a tough scrap but that’s the way we like it,” Alavi said.

“The tea break came at a good time for us. It gave us a chance to refresh, they were looking really comfortable and the new ball wasn’t doing much.”

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