St Albans, Doutta Stars play out classic VTCA Senior Division semi-final
Like an episode of Days of Our Lives, the VTCA Senior Division semi-final between St Albans and Doutta Stars had everything and it all came down to the last over.
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Doutta Stars are back in the VTCA Senior Division grand final after earning semi-final redemption on Sunday.
In a reversal of last year’s clash, the fourth-placed Stars upset minor premier and reigning champion St Albans by three wickets in a last-gasp thriller at Kings Park.
The one-day match was controversially played over two days with St Albans resuming on Sunday at 4-99 after rain halted play on Saturday.
There was added drama when the covers were removed leaving a wet patch on the bowlers’ run up, delaying the restart and reducing the game to 32 overs.
The Saints’ 5-147 looked an imposing target but the decision to promote Patrick Willach to the top of the order and late heroics from Brendan Ward got the Stars home with one ball to spare.
Stars captain-coach Hamish Moore said it wasn’t about revenge for his team but desire.
“I mentioned it in terms of the feeling we had after losing the way we did last year,” he said, referring to last year’s semi-final loss.
“It’s a new year, new mindset, new group, I just said to the boys go out have some fun and back your ability and we got the job done.
“If you want to look at it in terms of redemption, yeah there was a little bit there, but it just comes down to our boys wanting it.
“It was a good game of cricket, it always comes down to the last over or a big moment against St Albans to win it and this year it was our turn.”
St Albans lost star opener Simon Lambert (eight) and skipper Brenton Cook (duck) early on Saturday but rebuilt through Thilina Masmulla (54 not out) and Geeth Alwis (38) before some late hitting from SS Silva (31) on Sunday helped set a competitive total.
A back injury to Jayden Borg saw Willach thrown up the order with immediate results.
The hard-hitting batsman scored 67 runs off 71 balls, including six boundaries and a six.
Ward then picked up the slack and cracked 39 off 38 balls, including the match-winning single, to secure a third grand final appearance in four seasons for the Stars.
“They were 4-99 overnight … and the six overs they did have to bat on Sunday they played perfect cricket,” Moore said.
“They put another 50 on the board and put themselves in a pretty good position to win and it came down to the last ball.
“We chucked Patty up there, in the power play, naturally aggressive, good striker of the cricket ball and it worked.
“Wardy was fantastic, the tempo he played at, the ball striking and running between the wickets, it was a faultless innings and I couldn’t have been more prouder of him.”
Having lost in 2017-18 and 2018-19, the Stars are chasing their first Senior Division premiership since 2007-08.
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Sunshine United upset Strathmore in the other semi-final to earn its place and home ground advantage in the three-game decider.
The Tigers and Stars split their home-and-away games with each winning on the road.
Moore said nothing would change for his team.
“Another really good team, bat deep, bowl well and obviously good in the field,” he said.
“We’ll have our work cut our but we’ll back but it’s the same mindset for us, we’ll back our ability.”
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