Star performer: Paul Wickham’s 37 was pivotal in the Undera chase.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
For the first time since returning to Cricket Shepparton’s fields in 2016, Undera Cricket Club had one of its teams hoist silverware, as it triumphed over Central Park-St Brendan’s in the C-grade T20 decider on Sunday afternoon.
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Spurred on by a loss to Invergordon in last year’s C-grade Jim McGregor Shield grand final, the Lions would not be denied this time around, putting in a dominant performance from start to finish to come away a six-wicket winner.
A dashing 37 by Paul Wickham and two wickets apiece from club president Glenn Campbell (2-11) and skipper Russell Sherriff (2-14) proved pivotal to the Undera cause.
But in the end, everybody did their bit to see the Lions to glory, as they restricted the Tigers to 7-100 in the first innings before chasing down the total in 16.1 overs.
Whipping it in: Travis Beck of Central Park-St Brendan's.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Watching it closely: Undera's Paul Wickham.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Pushing hard: Undera's Steven Valentin.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Fun in the field: Central Park-St Brendan's player Zac Daldy.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Zeroed in: Central Park-St Brendan's player Harrison Baker.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Steaming in: Mitchell Pottenger of Central Park-St Brendan's.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Pushing the tempo: Undera's Paul Wickham.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Nice areas: Reza Kareem from Central Park-St Brendan's.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Sherriff said it was a wonderful feeling to bring the T20 trophy back to Undera.
“Everyone was very excited to come away with the win,” Sherriff said.
“Since Undera kicked off again it has not won a premiership until now, so it was a pretty big occasion for the blokes who had been there a long time.
“We’ve got quite an aggressive side, so the T20 format suits our game style, and after the way the guys bought into this tournament this win comes as a great reward.”
Winning the toss and batting first in glorious conditions at Deakin Reserve, Central Park-St Brendan’s immediately felt the pressure as a flurry of early wickets had it reeling at 4-31.
But while compatriots fell around him, opener Keagan Miller stood tall for the Tigers, as he maintained his positive approach to keep his team in the game.
Smashing seven boundaries, Miller would end up with a game-high 50 off 53 balls, but outside of a Sam Holland 17 struggled to get any assistance as Central Park finished its innings on a lowly 100.
“I thought we fielded really well for the entire 20 overs and that allowed (us to) set up our bowling effort,” Sherriff said of his team’s efforts in the field.
“We had two run outs and did not drop a catch, which goes a long way in these types of games.
“Put that with the even contribution we had with the ball and the first innings really set us up.”
Well on its way to victory at the halfway point, Undera attacked the chase aggressively, with Wickham well and truly at the forefront.
Sending the new ball to all parts of Deakin Reserve, he found the boundary seven times (five fours and two sixes) to finish with 37, while Steven Valentin played the perfect foil at the top of the order with a run-a-ball 16.
With the opening partnership of 45 all but putting the game away, Sherriff luckily found himself in the middle as the winning total was approaching.
Whacking a quick-fire 18, he finished proceedings with a maximum, a memory he said he would cherish forever.
“There was about eight overs to go and a couple of our big hitters still in the sheds, so I wasn’t too worried about getting out,” he said.
“I said out in the middle when we had only a few to get that wherever this ball is I’m going for it, and luckily it was a full toss, so I gladly put it over the rope.
“It meant a lot to come away with that win, a lot of blokes in our team are in the back end of their careers, so it was nice to give them some success, and for the young guys it shows they have what it takes to win.”
While this win was satisfying, the ultimate prize for his Undera team would be taking out the C-grade Jim McGregor Shield.
Right now, it finds itself in a great position to contend for that second piece of silverware, sitting fourth on the ladder with two rounds remaining before the finals begin.
