Lions prepare for premiership hat-trick

Darley Cricket Club – By Todd Whelan

Darley will meet Golden Point in this Saturday’s BCA Grand Final at Eastern Oval, having advanced with an impressive eight wicket win over Naps-Sebas at the weekend. Any thoughts and dreams the Lions faithful had of winning back-to-back-to-back titles are now reality. Ironically, history will be repeated if the Lions can successfully live out their dream at the same venue, on the same day, against the same opposition they did 12 months ago.

Coach Brian Wheelahan will ask his players to embrace the week in a bid to minimise any nervous tension issues.

“We’ve been here before,” he said.

“It’s a big week for the club and we feel very proud to have to have earned this opportunity.

“We are on the verge of creating something very special, so we’ll enjoy the ride.”

According to Wheelahan, rare air awaits the Lions if they can get the job done.

Just how the Lions progressed from Saturday’s Semi-Final is well worth exploring.

After winning the toss the Lions sent Naps-Sebas into bat, hoping for an advantage with the new ball on a ‘green to the eye’ deck. When strike bowler Madushanka Ekanayake dismissed opening batsman and club leading run scorer Sajith Dissanayake (10), the Lions would hold the upper hand for the best part of 38 overs. Wheelahan praised the efforts of his seamers especially with their ability to restrict the scoring.

“The bowlers were superb and were well backed up in the field,” he said.

“It was four (runs) if you pierced the infield, so the pressure was on our blokes to execute their skills.”

While cagey change of pace bowler Rahmatullah Khwaja (3/58) took wicket honours, Wheelahan paid homage to the frugal nature of his frontliners. Benny Longhurst (0/12 off 10 overs), Ekanayake (2/39 off 10 overs) and Mitch Ward (0/30 off 10 overs) ensured the asking target would not exceed 200. In fairness to Naps-Sebas they did ramp up the scoring over the final 12 overs, near doubling their score in the process before posting a more than competitive 6/183 from their 50 overs.

The Lions response with the bat would prove something to behold. If not for a couple of hiccups, the chase was near flawless, again dominated at the top by their leading run scorer Dilon Chandima who remained unbeaten on 112*(129). The ‘little master’ was simply brilliant by definition in a true masterclass display of measured, experienced batting – a most memorable knock that included 13 boundaries.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-03-22/21

in the 22 March 2022 edition
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