University wins its first CTPL premiership in 12 years with crushing defeat of North Hobart
University has won its first CTPL grand final in 12 years with a massive victory over North Hobart – and the Lions celebrated by calling India.
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“WE smashed ’em” was how University coach Damien Wright was told on a Facetime call to India that his Lions had beaten North Hobart in the CTPL grand final at Blundstone Arena to claim the club’s first premiership in 12 years.
It took Uni less than an hour and a half on the final day to snap up the six wickets it needed to win the history-making final.
Set a CTPL final and University club record total of 4-473, thanks largely to Roger Woolley Medal winner as Man of the Match Tim Ward (181 not out) and Australian Test captain Tim Paine (113 not out), North Hobart, which won the minor premiership and needed only a draw to win, went into day three at 4-186.
North lost its last six wickets for 55 runs and the Demons’ stubborn defence ended when Lions captain Andrew Kealy took the new ball at 11.49am.
With his fourth delivery, Kealy clean bowled Demons tail-ender Ben Fraser and the cup was University’s.
The players triumphantly accepted their medals and trophy on the field and adjourned to the changerooms where they belted out the club song and called “Wrighty”, who is India working as bowling coach for IPL side Kings XI Punjab.
Kealy, who captains a side that includes Aussie leader Tim Paine, World Cup Man of the Match James Faulkner and Hurricanes batter Jake Doran as keeper, was ecstatic.
“I’m lost for words – to come away with that result is something we’ve been working toward all year,” Kealy said.
“I want to pay tribute to ‘Wrighty’. He’s a larger-than-life character. Whenever he enters a room, blokes light up and he fills the room with confidence.
“It was tough not having him here but he has been in contact with us every day getting right behind the boys.”
Kealy had faith in his team.
“We knew we had a side that could compete with the top sides,” he said.
“We just needed to put in the work and get to the pointy end of the season.
“We got to the final of the T20s and copped a hiding there, and after that we knew we couldn’t rely just on our talent alone to get it done.
“So we put in a lot of hard work and got the job done in the one-day final and the belief grew from there.
“To the boys’ credit, we made it to the final and it was a super performance all round and to the club, this means everything.”
DAY TWO: Record-breaking Lions take control of decider
A CLUB and CTPL grand final record score has given University a golden opportunity to end a 12-year red ball premiership drought.
On the back of unbeaten centuries to opener Tim Ward (181) and Test captain Tim Paine (113), the Lions racked up 4-473 against North Hobart at Blundstone Arena to grab the ascendancy in a contest they must win to claim the silverware.
Ward and Paine motored from the overnight score of 4-340 to 4-473 at lunch on day two, shattering several historic marks along the way.
The total is the highest team score ever posted in a first grade grand final — surpassing Lindisfarne’s 3-460 two seasons ago — while it is also the highest in University’s history.
Skipper Jake Doran declared at the lunch break, leaving the Ward-Paine partnership unbroken on 194, 13 short of the club record for the fifth wicket between two of Tasmania’s greats Dene Hills and Jamie Cox.
However, the damage had been done, allowing the bowling unit to begin making inroads into the Demons batting group.
Andrew Kealy struck in the second over when he trapped Brad Smith lbw, with Patrick Page Jr falling for 30 shortly after drinks when his stumps were rattled by Sam Harbinson’s second ball of the match.
Tigers duo Jordan Silk (86) and Caleb Jewell (46) then joined forces for a relatively untroubled 103-run partnership until Ryan Lees made a telling breakthrough — courtesy of Ward and Paine combining again.
Jewell edged to Ward at second slip, who spilt the chance but fortunately watched the ball lob to Paine at first slip, who clung to the offering.
Ward more than made amends in the shadows of stumps by hanging onto a low diving chance to his right to help remove Silk, who was looming as the major roadblock for the Lions heading into the last day.
North Hobart finished at 4-186, and while only needing a draw to end its own 11-year wait for success, will need to dig deep to grind through an entire day with six wickets in hand.
Earlier Paine brought up his century in spectacular fashion, racing from 82 to triple figures by clearing the fence on three occasions in one Jack White over.
DAY ONE: Wonder Ward puts Uni in charge
MISSING out in the first two grand finals lit the fuse for Tim Ward to produce one the best innings of his career on the opening day of the CTPL decider.
Ward, lured to Tasmania from NSW in the off-season, batted the entire day to finish unbeaten on 142 at stumps, piloting University to 4-340 against North Hobart at Blundstone Arena.
In the third grand final between the two sides this season, the Lions grabbed the ascendancy after being sent in to bat and recovering from a double early blow.
Ward fell for a golden duck in the T20 final and managed just 22 in the Kookaburra Cup final, but more than made amends against the red ball.
“Missing out in the last couple of finals with the bat, I really wanted to be the one to put my team in the driver’s seat,” said Ward, who notched his third century of the season.
“Today was all about grinding it out and being the one … hopefully we can continue on tomorrow.
“I have performed in big games before but this would definitely be up there.”
Ward firstly helped rebuild in the first session when Tom Rogers (3-52) struck twice in two balls in the fifth over, trapping Zac Phair in front with an inswinger and following up with the prized scalp of Lions skipper and former Demons teammate Jake Doran, who edged into the slips cordon.
But then Uni slowly turned the momentum.
Ward combined with Nuwan Kavinda (63) to add 124 for the third wicket, before Rogers broke the union shortly before tea.
However that brought James Faulkner (68 from 70 balls) to the crease and an instant increase in the run rate.
With Faulkner flowing at one end, Ward joined in and wasted little time in the nervous 90s, racing from 91 to 102 in four balls with back-to-back boundaries and a sweetly timed cover drive to reach triple figures.
The 134-run stand with Faulkner ended when the Hurricanes all-rounder edged to point, but Test captain Tim Paine (28 not out) joined Ward through to the close of play.
“At the moment we haven’t really spoken about [setting a target or time in the day to declare], we just talked about having the momentum and using that tomorrow morning,” Ward said.
“They can easily take a couple of wickets and it could turn. If we are good until lunch and tea we can be in the driver’s seat and control the game from there.”
DAY TWO: Record-breaking Lions take control of decider
A CLUB and CTPL grand final record score has given University a golden opportunity to end a 12-year red ball premiership drought.
On the back of unbeaten centuries to opener Tim Ward (181) and Test captain Tim Paine (113), the Lions racked up 4-473 against North Hobart at Blundstone Arena to grab the ascendancy in a contest they must win to claim the silverware.
Ward and Paine motored from the overnight score of 4-340 to 4-473 at lunch on day two, shattering several historic marks along the way.
The total is the highest team score ever posted in a first grade grand final — surpassing Lindisfarne’s 3-460 two seasons ago — while it is also the highest in University’s history.
Skipper Jake Doran declared at the lunch break, leaving the Ward-Paine partnership unbroken on 194, 13 short of the club record for the fifth wicket between two of Tasmania’s greats Dene Hills and Jamie Cox.
However, the damage had been done, allowing the bowling unit to begin making inroads into the Demons batting group.
Andrew Kealy struck in the second over when he trapped Brad Smith lbw, with Patrick Page Jr falling for 30 shortly after drinks when his stumps were rattled by Sam Harbinson’s second ball of the match.
Tigers duo Jordan Silk (86) and Caleb Jewell (46) then joined forces for a relatively untroubled 103-run partnership until Ryan Lees made a telling breakthrough — courtesy of Ward and Paine combining again.
Jewell edged to Ward at second slip, who spilt the chance but fortunately watched the ball lob to Paine at first slip, who clung to the offering.
Ward more than made amends in the shadows of stumps by hanging onto a low diving chance to his right to help remove Silk, who was looming as the major roadblock for the Lions heading into the last day.
North Hobart finished at 4-186, and while only needing a draw to end its own 11-year wait for success, will need to dig deep to grind through an entire day with six wickets in hand.
Earlier Paine brought up his century in spectacular fashion, racing from 82 to triple figures by clearing the fence on three occasions in one Jack White over.
DAY ONE: Wonder Ward puts Uni in charge
MISSING out in the first two grand finals lit the fuse for Tim Ward to produce one the best innings of his career on the opening day of the CTPL decider.
Ward, lured to Tasmania from NSW in the off-season, batted the entire day to finish unbeaten on 142 at stumps, piloting University to 4-340 against North Hobart at Blundstone Arena.
In the third grand final between the two sides this season, the Lions grabbed the ascendancy after being sent in to bat and recovering from a double early blow.
Ward fell for a golden duck in the T20 final and managed just 22 in the Kookaburra Cup final, but more than made amends against the red ball.
“Missing out in the last couple of finals with the bat, I really wanted to be the one to put my team in the driver’s seat,” said Ward, who notched his third century of the season.
“Today was all about grinding it out and being the one … hopefully we can continue on tomorrow.
“I have performed in big games before but this would definitely be up there.”
Ward firstly helped rebuild in the first session when Tom Rogers (3-52) struck twice in two balls in the fifth over, trapping Zac Phair in front with an inswinger and following up with the prized scalp of Lions skipper and former Demons teammate Jake Doran, who edged into the slips cordon.
But then Uni slowly turned the momentum.
Ward combined with Nuwan Kavinda (63) to add 124 for the third wicket, before Rogers broke the union shortly before tea.
However that brought James Faulkner (68 from 70 balls) to the crease and an instant increase in the run rate.
With Faulkner flowing at one end, Ward joined in and wasted little time in the nervous 90s, racing from 91 to 102 in four balls with back-to-back boundaries and a sweetly timed cover drive to reach triple figures.
The 134-run stand with Faulkner ended when the Hurricanes all-rounder edged to point, but Test captain Tim Paine (28 not out) joined Ward through to the close of play.
“At the moment we haven’t really spoken about [setting a target or time in the day to declare], we just talked about having the momentum and using that tomorrow morning,” Ward said.
“They can easily take a couple of wickets and it could turn. If we are good until lunch and tea we can be in the driver’s seat and control the game from there.”
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