A stunning bowling performance from Danny Viani helped Kealba Green Gully win the NWMCA premiership on Sunday. 78698 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By LIAM TWOMEY
KEALBA Green Gully was crowned North West Metropolitan Cricket Association premier after defeating Pascoe Vale Central on Sunday.
The win was set up by a stunning bowling performance on day one from Danny Viani and Tristan Krizanic who both ripped through the Centrals’ batting line up, leaving a path of destruction behind them.
Pascoe Vale was on a high heading into the match after knocking over top of the ladder Buckley Park in week one of the finals and it was given first chance in the middle with Kealba captain Andrew Lambropoulos winning the toss and electing to bowl.
Runs were hard to come by as the run rate failed to get going early and it was clear the main objective for Pascoe Vale was to bat out its allotted overs.
Last week’s seven wicket hero Jarrod Catania worked hard with fellow opening bowler Matthew Nadzielski to push for an early breakthrough but it wasn’t until Viani and Krizanic were introduced into the attack that Kealba tasted success.
The pair combined for staggering joint figures of 9/57 from 43 overs, which included 13 maidens.
The constant loss of wickets and pressure to increase the scoring rate proved too much for Pascoe Vale as Kealba took the upper hand, eventually bowling the Centrals out for 123 in the 70th over.
Despite missing out on a wicket, Nadzielski finished with the tidy figures of 0/10 from his 11 overs.
With nine overs left in the day’s play Kealba was forced to see off a tricky spell of bowling and was desperate to return on Sunday with all 10 wickets in the shed.
However, a strike late in the day from Pascoe Vale left the Cougars 1/9 at stumps.
Kealba took the slow and steady approach to its run chase on day two and although losing regular wickets, was able to safely navigate to the total.
Evan Long was a rock in the middle order scoring 32 not out as victory was secured in the 66th over for the loss of seven wickets.
The premiership caps off an all round brilliant year for Kealba, which finished the home and away season in second position on the ladder with 12 wins and just the one loss.
The Cougars were also runners up in the NWMCA One Day Competition, losing to Buckley Park in the final.
