Seddon secures VTCA Division 1 top-four spot, locks in flag contenders

Talor Williams was the hero with bat and ball as Seddon sealed its place in the VTCA Division 1 top-four and locked in the premiership contenders.

Seddon captain Liam Braithwaite. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Seddon’s last-ball triumph over Altona North has locked in the VTCA Division 1 top-four.

The Dockers, this season’s heart-attack kids, secured a thrilling two-wicket win at Hanmer Reserve on Saturday, continuing a campaign of remarkable comebacks and escapes.

Talor Williams was the hero, smashing a six off the last ball of the game to ensure Seddon returns to finals for the first time since 2019-20.

The star all-rounder claimed 2-29 with the ball before hitting an unbeaten 75, including six sixes, to guide his team home.

Dockers captain-coach Liam Braithwaite talked us through the nail-biting finish.

Seddon’s Kyle Scheepers. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We thought 180 was chaseable but we’d have to bat well, we were off to a good start and then we lost 4-0,” he said.

“We’ve been in similar situations a few times this year, backs against the wall type thing.

“Everyone who came in played their role, Talor picked the right times and the right end of hit to – he hit a couple of massive sixes across the road.

“Coming into the last over we needed eight to win but we knew a draw would lock us in to finals.

“On the last ball, we needed two to win, one to tie and in true Talor fashion he got a full toss on his legs and he smashed it over square leg for six.

“It was really mature, he’s done it a couple of times this season, he’s really impressive batting in the middle order with a cool head.”

Buddhi Samarawickrama (58) and Luke Rainone (41) put Altona North in a strong position with a 79-run second-wicket partnership before Rainone was run out by Braithwaite.

Samarawickrama was also North’s best with the ball, claiming 3-34.

Seddon bowler Damith Priyadarshana.

Williams and Damith Priyadarshana (2-37) both took a brace for Seddon.

It’s been a stunning run home for the Dockers, who started the season 2-4 but are undefeated since Christmas.

Last week they survived a massive scare from PEGS, taking a one-wicket win with nine balls to spare and edged Airport West St Christophers with nine balls left the week prior.

Williams’ third half century of the campaign lifts him to 10th overall on the run-scorers charts with 333 runs, while Priyadarshana is eighth in the wicket-taking charts with 18 scalps.

With a game to play, they’ve locked out pre-season premiership favourites Airport West of the top-four.

“We had to keep winning because (Airport West) were hunting us down,” Braithwaite said.

“It’s a good sign, knowing we’ve been in trouble against good sides that we’ve still managed to come out on top.

“We didn’t make finals last season, which was pretty disappointing, so it’s been good to bounce back.

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“Even this season, we had two wins and four losses coming into Christmas but since coming back we’ve won all six games.

“Every batsman from one to 11 knows they’re going to get a chance to have an impact on the game.

“I still don’t think we’ve put in a complete performance with bat or ball, we’ve saved ourselves a few times with some individual performances, but hopefully we can put together a big team performance come finals.”

The Dockers finish the home-and-away season with a likely semi-final preview against ladder-leader Deer Park.