Strathmore wins maiden VTCA Senior premiership, overcoming Doutta Stars by eight wickets
Strathmore is celebrating its maiden VTCA Senior Division premiership after a dominant win over Doutta Stars, as captain John Bassi and paceman Chanaka Welegedara star with bat and ball.
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Strathmore is celebrating its maiden VTCA Senior Division premiership after a dominant eight-wicket win over Doutta Stars.
The Mores were in control of the four-day grand final from opening day and only needed to chase down 35 runs on Sunday to secure the Turner Shield.
Minor premiers Doutta Stars had no answers to Strathmore throughout the season, losing both home-and-away matches and the grand final.
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A 94-run 10th-wicket partnership in the first innings between captain John Bassi (53no) and Will Lee (48) set up the win.
Former Sri Lanka Test paceman Chanaka Welegedara then claimed five second-innings wickets to leave his team with a small run chase.
Bassi paid tribute to his players, who executed team plans to perfection.
“We batted 20 overs on the Saturday and got 90-odd runs and that really put us in front,” he said.
“We knew they’d come out very attacking (with the bat) and if we stayed patient, stuck to our plans, we knew we get the wickets.
“We had a couple of great catches. Check Welegedara took a really good catch and a couple from Jack Condon.”
Starting day three at 8-195, Jack Tate (27) was out on the third ball of the afternoon before Bassi and Lee launched their match-turning partnership, taking Strathmore to 290 all out and a lead of 134.
Doutta Stars lost quick wickets in pursuit of quick runs, falling to 2-18 before Lorenzo Ingram (42) and captain Brenton Parchment (32) attempted a rescue mission.
However, Welegedara removed both to leave Douttas wobbling at 4-93 and with a mountain to climb.
Some late hitting from Jamie McIlroy gave the Stars a 35-run lead and while Luke Kilby snared two wickets, Strathmore never looked like losing.
After earning promotion in 2012-13, it was also the Mores’ first Senior finals appearance.
“It’s our first Senior Division flag ever. We won a flag in North division back in 2012-13,” Bassi said.
“It was our first finals as well, which was always our goal at the start of the season.
“To win a semi was a really big positive and then to win the grand final, it’s the ultimate success. I’m really proud of everyone.”
Parchment was named man of the match after grabbing 8-83 in the first innings.
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