Bacchus Marsh’s premiership victory in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup will take a little bit of time to sink in.
The best side throughout the season, going through undefeated, the Bulls faced their greatest challenge of the season at the weekend against Woodend in the grand final.
For most of the game Woodend looked to be the likely winner, having bowled well and started its innings well.
But cricket can be a funny game and the Bulls came from nowhere to claim the win in remarkable fashion.
Bulls captain-coach Ben Robertson was in shock after the game.
“It’s unbelievable and pretty special,” he said.
“It was one of those days … cricket is a crazy game.”
The players had to wait a day for the grand final to get under way, with day one abandoned due to the rain and ground being too wet.
The Bulls then won the toss and elected to bat.
They were bowled out for just 115, their lowest total of the season, and this was despite Woodend gun bowler Peter Manser going down with a hamstring injury in his eighth over.
Only Madushanka Ekanayaka, coming in at number nine, looked comfortable at the crease for the Bulls as he top scored with 26.
Just four batsmen reached double figures in the innings, as they were bowled out in the 51st over.
Robertson said they couldn’t have played any worse than they did in that innings.
“The first 20-25 overs the balls didn’t swing a great deal and then after 30-35 overs, the ball was unplayable.
“Eka could be batting in the top four for us, we’ve got such a long batting line-up.
“He proved valuable and was hitting balls cleanly when everyone else was struggling.
“After losing the ninth wicket he went for one too many.”
Despite the below average total the Bulls didn’t give up hope and backed the form that had got them to that stage.
With Woodend 3-80 and needing just 36 runs with seven wickets and more than a day in hand, the Bulls positivity was tested.
But like in their innings, the ball started to swing and with the best bowler in the competition, Ekanayaka, in their side, things turned their way.
“We tried to stay positive and keep believing that we could win,” Robertson said.
“We got a bit of a run-on and kept going.
“Eka and Jared Taylor got the ball swinging.
“In those conditions when the ball started to swing and it was starting to get dark towards the end of the day, with Eka bowling straight at the stumps, it was hard to bat.”
The Bulls claimed 7-14, to bowl Woodend out for 94 and seal the premiership win.
Ekanayaka was named man of the match for his 26 and then 4-26 off 17 overs.
He could quite easily take home the Sullivan Medal for the competition’s best player in a couple of weeks time, having taken 59 wickets for the season at an average of 9.02 per wicket.
It comes after he took 44 wickets in his first season. Ekanayaka said he was proud to win the man of the match award. He said they never gave up on winning the grand final.
“I’m very proud, it’s six months of hard work,” he said. “Everyone has supported me and helped me get 59 wickets.
“We are the champions and I love Bacchus Marsh. I want to come back every year.”
Robertson said the premiership, which is the club’s first top grade premiership since 2007-08, was reward for all the hard work that everyone has put in.
He said the depth of the playing group had always been crucial in getting them to where they are.
“It means everything to the club and a lot of past players and committee people have put a lot of work in for us,” he said. “The work they do to give us the ability to play every week isn’t always noticed, but we notice it.
“There were a couple of guys pushing for McIntyre and were unlucky to miss out.
“Hopefully their time will come next season.”
The premiership still feels like a dream for the first year captain-coach, who returned to the club this season.
It’s a long way from his initial expectations for the season.
“When I signed I didn’t have James [Lidgett] and I didn’t know how many games I’d get out of Dennis,” he said.
“I didn’t know what sort of squad I’d have and it was about making sure we didn’t get relegated.
“In the space of a week I had myself, James and Dennis all committed. Without us three, we would have been a middle of the road side.
“To go through undefeated and win the McIntyre Cup is incredible.”
