Tara Murray
The reality of winning the Victorian Turf Cricket association division 4 premiership is still settling in for Caroline Springs.
The underdogs heading into the best-of-three grand final series with Gellibrand, the Falcons were hoping to push the series to game three.
But after winning game one, the Falcons were able to back it up on Sunday to take game two and the premiership.
Falcons coach Gary Turner said the following morning that it still felt like a dream.
“The club is over the moon, we didn’t expect it to happen that quick,” he said.
“They were favourites having lost only one game for the year. We wanted to win the first game and put the pressure on them.
“We expected them to respond and push it to three games. To win it in two days was fantastic.”
Turner said the keys heading into the two games was being able to stay in the game for longer periods of time and forming batting partnerships.
He said that was what proved to be the difference.
In game one, the Falcons made 6-195 with contributions throughout the batting order.
At 5-80 the Falcons were in control, but Gellibrand were able to respond. Gellibrand fell just short, restricted to 8-192.
Gavin McCallum continued his good form, taking four wickets.
In game two, Gellibrand batted first and made 9-182 after being sent in. Turner said they backed their ability to chase any total.
The Falcons got early wickets, before Jacob McDonald got away from them late to push up the total.
Turner admits they were in trouble after losing clumps of wickets.
But for a second successive week, the Falcons have responded late.
“We started well and then lost 2-4 and then 3-1, so it didn’t look crash hot with five overs to go.
“Huss [Mujtaba Hussain] and Flynn [Rice] got us over the line.
“The guys built confidence from the previous week that you’re never out of the game and that finals can turn so quickly.”
McCallum top scored with 45 to cap off a brilliant final series.
He was named player of the grand final.
It comes after he bowled them into the grand final series the previous round.
“His last month has been outstanding,” Turner said.
The premiership is the club’s first top side premiership since moving to the VTCA.
The win also means the club will move up into division 3 next season.
Turner said he didn’t imagine this happening at the start of the season.
“It that full credit to Anthony [Rice] and the committee.
“When I came to the club it was about getting the club back on track. There’s a lot of young guys at the club and I want to teach them the right way to play cricket.
“To do it in the first year, it’s a dream.”
Pretty said they would enjoy the celebrations this week, before looking to recruiting and next season.
