Tara Murray
Every season you want to win a premiership, but winning one this season would be extra special for Melton Centrals in the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket competition.
Centrals won through to the shield 3 one-day final on Sunday, beating Werribee in the semi final.
Centrals’ captain-coach Candace Hulett said they were pumped to be back in a grand final this season.
The side has won one premiership previously.
“Everyone is really pumped,” she said. “It was good to have a win against Werribee.
“It’s extra special this year with Dimi [Lavanda] and her having a brain tumour. We’re rallying around her and we want to win it for her.”
Lavanda, who has a three astrocytoma brain tumour, played in the Centrals semi final win against Werribee.
Hulett has previously said that Dimi is her little mate, her little twin.
The match against the Tigers was one that Centrals controlled throughout.
Centrals made 3-172 from their 35 overs.
Liz Pierce top scored with 63, while Hulett scored 47 not out.
Hulett said that score made them confident that they could get the job done.
“Once we hit that score we knew that we had the bowling depth,” she said.
“We got some early wickets before they had a good partnership in the middle. The run rate was always too much though.
“We were in control of the game, as we were in control we knew that we could control the tempo of the game.”
Werribee finished 7-145 in reply. Pierce capped off her strong day with three wickets for Centrals.
Hulett said the addition of Pierce this season had been really good and it was nice to have another experienced person to help with the younger players.
While Hulett has been on the biggest day of the season before, for many of the group its their first grand final.
“It will be a pretty special day,” she said.
“Some were in the final [they won], some were not. The girls who come over from St Anthonys have never won a grand final before.
“It’s good to get some of the young ones who have only just got into cricket into a final.”
Centrals will face Keilor in the grand final. Keilor won its semi final against Craigieburn in a thriller.
The Blues made 5-165, before restricting Craigieburn to 9-162.
Hulett said they were expecting a good match.
“They have a young side with a lot of young rep kids,” she said. “They have beaten us a couple of times this season.
“We have enough talent in our team to beat them.”
