Strathmore’s fairytale debut Subbies season reaches the grand final

Omar Phillips’ return and Sam Duggan and Chanaka Welegedara’s last-gasp heroics launch Strathmore into a debut Subbies grand final.

Strathmore’s Chanaka Welegedara and John Bassi celebrate a wicket. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Strathmore’s fairytale run has reached grand final week.

The Mores squeezed past St Bernard’s by just one wicket in a thrilling semi-final at Lebanon Reserve on Saturday to book their place in the VSDCA North-East decider in their debut season.

The victory made all the sweeter for the return of inspirational coach Omar Phillips.

However, it was young gun Sam Duggan and former Sri Lanka Test paceman Chanaka Welegedara who were the heroes.

The pair scored 16 runs in 82 nail-biting balls in a match-winning tenth-wicket partnership.

Strathmore batsman Nick Sabatino. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Duggan (five not out) hit the winning runs with just seven balls to spare after earlier taking 2-19, while Welegedara scored 11 not out and took 2-29.

Strathmore captain John Bassi admitted it was tough watching.

“It was a good win, very close, we don’t know how to do it easy,” he said.

“Our supporters and president aren’t too happy with us.

“Sam’s just 17 and contributing in both finals with the ball and with the bat (on Saturday). It’s fantastic.

“He hit the winning runs with a little flick through mid-wicket, got a two to get us over the line.

“To get those last 16 runs it probably took 40 to 45 minutes and it was very tense and nerve-wracking.

“Chanaka was very cool, calm and collected, he certainly used all his experience (on Saturday) and spoke Sam through it and got us over the line.”

Bassi said Phillips’ return had had a massive impact on the club.

The star opener was forced to return to Barbados earlier in the season due to a death in the family and only returned to Australia on Friday.

Strathmore’s wicketkeeper Samuel Dukic. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Phillips scored 25 runs and took three catches.

“It was super to have him back, just his presence uplifted the group,” Bassi said.

“He arrived back on Friday and we all got to see him for the first time on Saturday, you just walk taller with him around.

“It was great that we could get a win for him after all his hard work through the year and having to go back to Barbados, it made it sweeter for him I think.

“Without him we probably wouldn’t have got close.”

Bassi also took 2-22 and Janaka Siriwardana claimed 2-20 as St Bernard’s tallied 9-119, thanks largely to Daniel O’Connell’s 30.

The Snowdogs variety in attack looked to have got them home as every bowler took at least one wicket before Duggan and Welegedara’s last stand.

Strathmore will face minor premier Kew in the grand final at Victoria Park.

The two clubs faced each other just a month ago with Kew taking a seven-wicket win at Lebanon Reserve.

However, Phillips and Bassi both missed that match and the skipper believed his team was capable of producing something special.

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“I missed that day so I don’t have much to go off,” he said.

“Obviously they’re a super strong team with several quality players but you never know what can happen on grand final day.

“Cricket is a funny sport and strange things happen.

“We’ve got nothing to lose, it’s a free swing for us, so we’re just going to come out and play our game and hopefully cause an upset.”

STRATHMORE KEEPS FAIRYTALE SEASON ALIVE

Strathmore added another chapter to its remarkable Subbies debut season on Saturday.

The Mores produced a stunning 23-run upset win over Coburg at Coburg City Oval to stay alive in the North-East group premiership race and end the Lions’ season.

The win and season all the more remarkable considering the club has been without coach and star opener Omar Phillips for the past month after he returned home to Barbados due to family reasons.

Captain John Bassi said the club had exceeded expectations.

“Coming in we knew it was going to be a tough competition, so we were just hoping to be competitive,” he said.

Strathmore's Chanaka Welegedara. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We started really well at the start of the year but been not as consistent at the back end since Omar went home.

“As a club we’ve exceeded expectations to be totally honest, making finals was always a goal and to win a final is a fantastic achievement.”

Jack Condon was the standout with the bat, top-scoring with 40, as Strathmore reached 9-146 from its 40 overs.

Shea Mukearns has stepped up in Phillips’ absence and scored 21 to give the Mores a solid foundation.

Four bowlers then each took a brace as Coburg’s twin towers Aaron Shellie and Aaron Ayre failed to fire with the Lions all out 123.

Chanaka Welegedara (2-16) claimed the key wicket of North-East group top run-scorer Shellie, ensuring an earlier mistake didn’t bite him, while Sam Duggan (2-14) removed Ayre.

“Chanaka actually dropped Shellie the over before,” Bassi said.

“Aaron skied one and Chanaka is probably the safest catch in our team but unfortunately he lost it in the sun and wind.

Strathmore batsman Chris Williams. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“We were pretty flat after that happened but true to form he came on next over and bowled him a beauty.

“We knew if we could get Ayre before he got a roll on they’d struggle to get it.

“Young Sam Duggan came on, bowled a pretty average first over to be honest, but then bowled absolutely sensationally from then on.

“It was a great effort for a young kid who’s come up this year and showed he can mix it with the best bats and take some big wickets.”

The victory earns Strathmore a shot at a grand final.

Fellow fairytale story St Bernard’s stands in the way with the Mores keen to reverse a defeat earlier in the season.

The Snowdogs pulled off a remarkable four-run win in January after being 4-14 and the Mores in cruise control at 2-108.

Bassi is looking forward to the rematch.

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“It will be a good challenge, we played them early in the year and they got the chocolates after we collapsed,” he said.

“They’re nearly the in-form team in the comp to be honest, they’ve had a really good back end.

“We’ll stick to our plan and hopefully move onto a grand final the next week.”

Strathmore’s Third XI is already into a grand final, where it will meet St Bernard’s at St Bernard’s College on Saturday.