SAINT Stanislaus’ College have broken a decade long drought by claiming the Independent School’s Associations Division Three cricket title on Saturday.
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The Bathurst team had not won an ISA title since Greg Jones mentored the school’s Second XI side to glory in the 2000/01 season.
However, that all ended in dramatic style when the Stannies team defeated Sydney’s Oakhill College away by six wickets in a grand final which saw just 84 runs scored in total.
The St Stanislaus’ side, who went to Oakhill looking to bowl their opponents out of the match, won the toss and instantly sent the home side in to bat on a new pitch.
Victorious coach Anthony Fisher said his side received a handy boost when gun Oakhill batsman Kieran Barratt was run out in dramatic circumstances.
“While the run rate was low both the opening batsman looked solid in defence but when both batsman ended up at the strikers end Ellery Johnson was able to lob the ball back to Pat Logan for the easy wicket,” he said.
“Barratt had been averaging 50 runs a match so once he was out we ran through the side pretty quickly.”
With Oakhill 1-4 after six overs, the visitors applied the pressure with Brett Lindsay the chief destroyer claiming 3-5 off his seven overs taking his tally to 23 wickets from 11 matches at an average of 6.8 and an economy rate of just two.
Things looked very good for Stannies when they had Oakhill 6-27 in the 16th over.
“At drinks I said to the boys it could be remarkably easy for them to score 100 runs, so really put your foot on the throat,” he said.
“I told them don’t go looking for the wickets just continue to bowl a good line and length and it will come.”
While Nick Johnson top scored with 22 not out, Oakhill’s innings would be one they would rather forget.
“Beside the way the first wicket happened the last was just as tough for them to take,” Fisher said.
“Every now and then Ellery will throw the ball at the stumps off the pace bowlers, and this time the batsman had his heal in the air and so was out stumped.”
Despite such a strong bowling performance, St Stanislaus’ found themselves in serious trouble with the bat.
Garrett Cummings (2-10 off four overs) and Zac Randal (3-12 off five) tore through the visitors batting line-up removing Dale Lane (1) and Gregory O’Shannessy (1) cheaply and Connor Bennett, Xavier Giuliano and Jack Allen without scoring.
Fortunately Johnson (27 not out) and Brett Lindsey (five from 36 balls) steadied the ship, claiming victory in impressive style.
“When Ellery [Johnson] hit the winning run, he just lifted both arms in the air as the ball rolled over the boundary,” Mr Fisher said.
“The boys all charged out to the middle of the field, they were so happy and relieved. They even did The Ric [the schools cheer] in the middle of the pitch.”
SAINT STANISLAUS’ COLLEGE: Dominic Carmody (c), Dale Lane, Gregory O’Shannessy, Ellery Johnson, Connor Bennett, Xavier Giuliano, Patrick Logan, Jack Allen, Alexander Murray, Thomas Noonan, Brett Lindsay, Riley McAneney, Owen Hoolahan, Dominic Giuliano.