The Eastern Cricket Association C Turf Grand Final pitted the top side Boronia against the second placed Marcellin. Boronia had twice beat Marcellin in the regular season however Marcellin were the ‘in form’ side having not lost a match since Christmas. The match was to be played at Marcellin after Boronia was unable to source a ground as their first XI had also won the right to host a grand final.
Despite numerous rumours throughout the week that the match conditions could be changed, or that the match may not be played at all due to the impending coronavirus restrictions, the Grand Final commenced on 14th March 2020.
On what was a lovely autumnal day, Boronia begrudgingly arrived at Marcellin and proceeded to win the toss and bat in perfect cricket conditions.
Julian Black and Daniel Zachariah opened the bowling and were both metronomic in their line and length with Blacky unlucky not to have an early breakthrough when Michael McColl remembered he was playing in a grand final and proceeded to grass a sharp chance at square leg.
After further toil Blacky recovered with a double strike removing both openers, one caught behind by James Kazalac and the other by Chetan Joshi, who has proven to be a revelation in gully after Christmas.
Marcellin president Peter French, who this year had resisted the urge to get a $170 haircut, then replaced Zaka and struck almost immediately removed Boronia’s number 3, Ash Hart, with a lovely delivery that swung back and removed Hart’s off stump.
Boronia’s Damien Hart and Blennerhassett then combined for a steady, if dour, partnership to tea, seeing off maiden after maiden from Frenchy and John ‘Chubba’ Dinneen along with a few overs from Michael McColl and Chetan.
Returning after tea, Marcellin appeared reinvigorated by home-made sausage rolls, signature chicken sandwiches and tempura nuggets, with Chubba striking to break the crucial partnership. Chubba then struck again with a classic snake taking the crucial wicket of Gary Collier.
Boronia then dug in appearing determined to bat out the day. Mohit Sethia, Chetan and Chubba then proceeded bowl extremely economically with Mohit taking the crucial wicket of Blennerhassett and Chubba taking a further two wickets.
Boronia’s English import McCann then proceeded to hit out, batting well until he holed out to a solid catch by Frenchy on the long on boundary off the bowling of Chubba.
After an extremely economical bowling display Marcellin managed to bowl out Boronia on the last ball of the day for 172. The last wicket falling to a run out from Ankur Mathur, who had fielded excellently all day and saved countless runs. Special mention needs to go to Chubba who took 5/42 off 24 overs with 12 maidens, although all of our bowlers did a fantastic job.
We would also like to thank our twelfth man, Andrew Sewell who was fantastic all day providing drinks, lollies and general refreshment at the fall of every wicket.
This set up what had the potential to be a difficult chase the following day.
The following day we all arrived bright, early and a little sore from fielding the previous day.
The contrasting styles of Adam Massarotti and Daniel Coloe opened up the batting. Maz shocked everyone by defending the first delivery. Normal proceedings quickly resumed with Maz smashing the second ball for 4 past wide mid on. Maz then proceeded to completely take Boronia’s bowling line up apart. He hit both Ribbands and Moody out of the attack (despite occasionally Coloe having the strike and boring everyone to death).
Boronia then brought on Collier and their leg spinner Schmidt in an effort to stem the tide however they, and Boronia, had no answer to the Maz show. The opening stand quickly passed 50 with Maz’s own half century coming shortly after.
The opening partnership continued with the opening stand passing 100 just after the drinks break. At one stage even Boronia appeared to be enjoying the opening stand as they refused to run either Coloe or Maz out despite numerous opportunities on the one ball (which resulted in one of the more unusually run 3s you have ever seen).
The opening partnership was eventually broken with Coloe being dismissed for a typically boring 25 with an opening stand of 105.
James Kazalac came to crease to join the Maz show and added a further 28 before Maz holed out for 97 off 91 balls with 12 fours and 1 six. Kaz quickly followed Maz, making 9 before falling to his late season kryptonite of a waste high full toss which he hit straight to mid wicket.
Mohit, our in-form batsman after Christmas, was then joined by Blacky and the two of them put on an unbeaten 40 with Mohit ending up 16 not out and Julian 19 not out. Marcellin passed Boronia’s score in the 52nd over.
Michael McColl had finally broken his curse of not winning a premiership at Marcellin. Also celebrating their first premierships at Marcellin were Ankur, Mohit and Zaka. The result was even more special for Daniel Zachariah who with his partner was expecting their first child less than 2 weeks after the grand final.
Maz was rightfully named man of the match (James Kazalac was named best on ground in the celebrations after the match).