By Nick Creely
Stamping itself as one of the great sides of the Dandenong District modern era, Mordialloc and its remarkable resolve once again lifted itself to premiership glory after doing it the hard way against Springvale South.
Fans flocked to Cashman Oval in Doveton to watch the finest turf cricket in the region, and they were sure treated to a show, in a grand final that was glittered with spectacular catches, missed opportunities, extreme switches of momentum, and ultimately back to back flags for the Bloodhounds.
In stifling heat on Saturday, Bloods skipper Craig Slocombe didn’t hesitate to win the toss and elect to bat, and on a pitch that seemingly resembled a road, openers Liam Hamilton and Nathan King strolled to the pitch on a mission.
Hamilton was sturdy in defence early, while the more aggressive King took a liking to Stuart Squires (2/43), lifting him down the ground on several occasions to set the tone.
Coming on from the Box Street end, Ian Daniel (6/71) almost immediately found the breakthrough in what proved to be a match winning spell by the superstar, trapping Hamilton (10) LBW, before ending King’s cameo on 46 after crashing through the stumps to bring the score to 2/72 in a terrific period of sustained pressure.
In came the ever dangerous Steven Spoljaric (34), who immediately got off the mark with a tidy flick to mid-on for a single, and instantly the feel was that the five time Wookey winner could be in for a big one.
Just as the Bloods looked to be swinging the momentum back again, Daniel’s brilliance once again shone, knocking over Dylan Quirk (21) after a gritty 80 ball stay, and then shortly after removing Jack Sketcher (4), courtesy of an absolutely stellar catch by the nimble Dylan Campbell at mid-on.
With the two most experienced players in the association; Spoljaric and Slocombe; at the crease; a period of consolidation was required, but yet again, immense pressure from Daniel and quick Chathura Athukorala (1/31) brought about the undoing of the pair.
Just as the pair looked to be settling, a brain fade from Spoljaric, in which the champ cut in the air straight to point, ended his innings, and not long after, Slocombe (15) took the bait and attempted to lift Daniel over mid-off, only for the ball to be swallowed up by Campbell yet again, and suddenly the score was 6/143.
Courtesy of a terrific, fighting 28 to Malinga Bandara, the Bloods scratched their way to 187, leaving the Bloodhounds nine overs to face before stumps.
Daniel finished with the figures of 6/71, bowling 34 overs; almost straight; at the Box Street end in a performance reminiscent to his 8/43 taken in last year’s grand final.
It was always going to be a case of curtailing Malinga Bandara’s leg spin before stumps, but seamer Tim Ford found the first wicket, trapping Brendan Morris LBW in the fifth over.
Desperate to protect Ian Daniel, Peter McDermott was sent out amongst some heated words from the Bloods, and right before stumps, Bandara spun one past the bat of youngster Jakob Woinarski (5), leaving the premiers 2/15 at stumps, and with lots of work to do.
Wind and rain took hold on Sunday morning, forcing the play to be delayed by 30 minutes, but the Bloodhounds got off to a strong start in some difficult conditions, with McDermott (34) and Ryan Morris (24) playing with some aggression and swiftly knocking up 43 runs.
A brilliant bit of fielding at backward square leg by Andrew Staude brought about the end of Morris at 3/52, and in came Daniel, who despite looking shaky, managed to play with a straight bat and account for spinners Jarryd Straker (1/37) and Bandara (3/72).
But on the last ball before the lunch break, Daniel popped a ball to short leg with Bandara getting one to spit off a length, and the Bloods went into raptures, capturing the best player and taking the score to 4/67.
Almost instantly after the lunch break, Bandara struck again, with McDermott snicking off to Slocombe at first slip, and at 5/70 the game was swaying towards the men from Alex Nelson.
As the Bloodhounds have done for the best part of three years, they took the game on when it looked to be vanquishing, and a 31 run stand between Chathura Athukorala (14) and Damith Mapa Ralage (63); which included a massive six from Athukorala over square leg; left the equation at 87 runs with four wickets left in hand.
And as Bloodhounds skipper Stuart Squires (38 not out) explains after riding a wave of emotion to play another defining hand, his side toasted sweet success after an incredible knock by Mapa Ralage; who played with utter class and dare; saw them run away with a convincing four wicket victory in an incredible show of resolve and skill.
“I didn’t quite know how we were going to conjure it up, but that’s our way, we find a way,” he said moments after walking off the ground.
“I think the game plan was to enjoy, we didn’t want any pressure; every over, we just said ‘let’s enjoy it’, and it was on them to get the wicket.
“It started to turn with Chooka (Athukorala) and Mapa, and they put the pressure on them, and it just allowed me to play my dinky role that I do.
“I think him and Chooka taking on Bandara was crucial, and we couldn’t let him bowl 30 overs for 30 runs, we had to take some runs off him and those two did it perfectly.
“I’ve won seven for Mordi now, it’s just absolutely amazing; I honestly didn’t think we were going to do it, and during the week I thought they were the better side,” he said.
As one of the Bloodhounds’ greatest ever leaders, Squires addressed his future in the DDCA, in a legacy that goes well beyond his raw stats.
“I’m going to have a year off next year, I’ve got a baby on the way, so it may be it for me,” an emotional Squires said.
“That’s the best thing about Mordi, if someone goes out, someone comes in.”
Ian Daniel captured the Damien Fleming Medal as the Turf 1 man of the match, making it his second in a row, as he too builds a legacy as one of the great finals performers.
Mordialloc Turf 1 premiers:
Brendan Morris
Jakob Woinarski
Peter McDermott
Ryan Morris
Ian Daniel
Damith Mapa Ralage
Chathura Athukorala
Stuart Squires (capt)
Dylan Campbell
Lochlan Davies
Tim Wighton
Leon Kennedy (12th man)
