St Albans one win away from maiden VTCA Senior Division premiership after knocking off Doutta Stars
In just its second season in VTCA Senior Division, St Albans is one win away from a historic premiership after upsetting minor premier Doutta Stars in a thrilling semi-final.
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St Albans is eyeing a historic VTCA Senior Division flag after stunning minor premier Doutta Stars by six runs on Sunday.
It’s been a rapid rise for the Saints, who were only promoted to the top flight last season after Greenvale Kangaroos were forced to withdraw.
In just its second season in Senior Division, the club will face perennial powerhouse Yarraville Club in the four-day decider.
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“It was a big call for the club because we didn’t win the flag to come in,” St Albans captain-coach Rob Nikolic said.
“The VTCA needed someone to fill a spot, we applied, and it’s paid off.”
A waterlogged Buckley Park resulted in play being cancelled on Saturday, reducing the semi-final to a one-day clash on Sunday.
Sent in, the Saints made a solid start behind Simon Lambert’s 41 but when the opener fell, the visitors lost 7-50 to be dismissed for 118.
Doutta Stars’ batting demons came back to haunt them as they made a horror start, falling to 4-34.
Lorenzo Ingram top-scored with 26 and despite a late fightback from Declan Kennedy (17 not out) and Shannon Wigmore (11), the Stars fell agonisingly short, bowled out for 112.
Geeth Alwis and Arosh Janoda both claimed 3-15 to claim a stunning upset victory.
The decider will be “a bit of an unknown” for St Albans and Yarraville Club with both clashes between the pair this season washed out.
Nikolic acknowledged St Albans was the underdog but warned the Clubbers not to underestimate his team.
“They’re coming back from a lean year last season and want to re-establish themselves as the best team in the competition and we want to make a name for ourselves,” he said.
“We haven’t really had a chance to go head-to-head at all.
“We’ve only bowled to them, they haven’t had a chance to see our batting and we haven’t had a good look at their bowling.
“Going in without that intel, it will make it a really interesting contest.”
Lambert finished the regular season as the competition’s second highest run-scorer, while Alwis was the leading wicket-taker.
It sets up a fascinating battle against Yarraville Club guns Will Sheridan (386 runs and 20 wickets) and Trent Lawford (19 wickets).
The Clubbers eliminated last season’s Division 1 West premier Druids in the other semi.