Tara Murray
Sydenham-Hillside’s fairy tale run in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division will continue, with the Storm into the grand final.
In its first season in the top grade, the Storm was undaunted by the challenge ahead of them, sitting in the top four for most of the season.
On the weekend, the Storm produced a strong all round performance to knock last season’s premiers, Yarraville Club, out of the finals.
Storm coach Warren Hackney said they’re super excited to be in another grand final. The club had won four premierships in five seasons heading into this season, rising from division 4 to senior division.
“It’s been an awesome run,” Hackney said. “Maybe the fairy tale is yet to be fully written.
“We come into this season hoping to be competitive and maybe see some finals action.
“We were under no illusions it’s a tough competition and what it takes to get there.
“We are really deserving of our spot there and now we want to win it.”
The Storm faced Yarraville Club in the final round of the season, winning a thriller to secure a home semi final.
Hackney said that win helped build their confidence that they could beat a time like that, having already beaten them earlier in the season too.
He said the one thing they hadn’t done was put a full game together against them, but that changed on Saturday.
The Clubbers won the toss and sent the Storm in, a decision that surprised Hackney. The Storm made the most of it, making 6-306 from its 80 overs.
Skipper Anthony Alleyne led the way with 109.
“Those conditions were hugely challenging, both physically and mentally,” Hackney said. “We wanted to bat first and the batters took on the responsibility led by our captain Anthony.
“We were able to wear them down over the weekend which speaks volume of the group.”
The Storm’s bowlers were then able to back up the work of the batters, bowling Yarraville Club out for 147 in the 50th over.
Hackney said they needed to get early wickets to restrict the Clubbers.
“We were on from the start,” she said. “We took wickets early and it made it difficult for them to come back.
“We’ve seen what they’ve been able to do in the two games against us this season, so we knew it was important to get those key guys.”
The Storm bowlers shared the wickets, with six players taking at least one wicket and no one with more than two.
The Storm will face Deer Park in the grand final. The Lions match with Aberfeldie finished in a draw after players went off for the heat rule, with Deer Park well on top at the time.
“We have full faith in what we can do,” he said. “Last time we were a wicket away from breaking them.
“[Keon] Harding and [Dan] Sartori both got them to a really good score and we reel like one wicket away from breaking that and turning it our way.”
