By JARROD POTTER
DDCA TURF 2 GRAND FINAL REVIEW
THE Dingoes are on the march to the top grade after an emphatic victory in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 2 grand final.
Minor premier Keysborough (116) narrowly avoided defeat last week after a reverse-outright triumph but it couldn’t overcome a determined Dingley (6/178) in the finale.
The Dingoes rolled the Knights cheaply on Saturday before hunting down the runs with hours to spare on Sunday to seal the club’s greatest victory yet in the association.
“Definitely thrilled – I just think the best thing about the win is the junior players from Dingley being involved in it,” Dingley captain Travis Sawers said.
“We had eight players who had gone through from juniors to seniors involved in the premiership and had a father-son involved in it as well.
“We also had even contribution from everyone each week – we don’t rely on individuals to perform to get success and we have a really strong balance.”
The Keysborough top order imploded against Dingley’s new ball specialist Andrew Dalby (4/30) as Dingley seared through the first four for a pittance.
The only tandem to show great resistance was Shakeel Ahmad (48) and Yoshan Kumara (19), as the duo worked their way towards tea in a steady partnership before Ahmad was run out by Kumara and from there the Keysborough innings couldn’t regain momentum.
Dingley’s difficult chase – hampered by the thunderbolts Kumara (3/27) was flinging at them – was started by the captain Sawers (26) alongside Christo Otto (18).
Scott Tutton (57no) and up-and-comer Liam Leeson (16) set themselves for stumps and finished the job on Sunday to earn the Dingoes their first DDCA senior flag since joining in 2013/14.
“He (Tutton) was professional and the way he went about it and closed it off, but the partnership between him and Liam Leeson on Saturday night, where it was getting dark and tough was incredible,” Sawers said.
“Liam is only a 15-year-old kid and for him to weather a storm from Yoshi (Yoshan Kumara) and Kella (Ruwanta Kellepotha) showed experience beyond his years.”
Dingley’s 19-year-old wicketkeeper Mark Fitch got to savour the moment alongside his dad Darren as the pair celebrated a rare father-son Turf 2 premiership.
It’s onwards and upwards to DDCA Turf 1 for the Dingoes and Sawers believes it puts the side on the map and can only help them develop further.
“It’s just fantastic for us as a club – we’re a growing club and we know that Turf 1 basically gives us a chance to draw better players to the club to help develop the youth,” Sawers said.
“I guess it’s just a reward for self-belief among the playing group who were tight on the field but also off the field and had a strong social culture – that’s the most important thing with the side.”
It was Dingley’s first senior XI flag since the 2004/05 season in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
DINGLEY DDCA TURF 2 PREMIERS: Travis Sawers (captain), Ryan McLean, Kent Waring, Christo Otto, Brody Balfour, Liam Leeson, Scott Tutton, Umega Chathuranga, Andrew Dalby, Darren Fitch, Mark Fitch, Jay Jhamb and Flynn Mcgaw.
