Gisborne’s run in the Cricket Victoria regional T20 competition has come to an end in the conference finals, just one win short of an appearance at the MCG.
The Dragons’ hopes of making it to the final match of the 16-team statewide competition were dashed by their loss on Sunday to Victorian Turf Cricket Association outfit Doutta Stars.
Dragons president Andrew Headberry acknowledged the club didn’t even know of the competition’s existence 12 months ago, and the side had exceeded all expectations.
“Today was full of character,” Headberry said after the loss to Doutta Stars. “We just said to the boys then that they’d had a real crack and done the town proud.
“For a while there, we just kept turning up and winning matches. We were thereabouts today but couldn’t quite get it done.”
Batting first, Doutta Stars made 4-157 on the back of 80 from Lorenzo Ingram. Clinton Young looked the most dangerous of the Dragons’ bowlers, taking one wicket, while Jay King bowled tightly, conceding 22 runs off his four overs.
For more photos of the Dragons match against the Doutta Stars, CLICK HERE.
In reply, the Dragons could manage only 9-139, Young top-scoring with 43 while Eamon McKenna contributed 37 at the top of the order.
“We lost wickets of the wrong guys at key times. Our best T20 batsmen were out early,” Headberry said. “Simon Harman and Tahir Afridi were back in the shed when we had only 20-odd on the board, which was always going to make it hard. Jarryd [Vernon] hasn’t played much cricket for the past three or four weeks … he tried hard but was underdone. In the end, we really needed Clint or Eamon to go on and make a big score.”
Headberry said the Stars were steadier at key moments and their experienced players had batted well.
An allround performance by former AFL player Clinton Young was the standout for the Dragons. “He just turned up one day and asked [to] play a game,” Headberry said. “He’s fantastic around the club and is obviously getting better and better.”
Headberry said the T20 campaign had left a big impact on the club. “We had a lot of our under-16 kids here watching this competition.The shorter form of the game is just going to keep getting bigger and bigger, and obviously the kids will be playing a lot of it. It’s good for the kids to see the club going so well.”
