Tara Murray
More than 12 hours in the field and after 160 overs bowled, Spotswood finally prevailed on the final ball of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west grand final.
The Woodsmen and Werribee produced an all time classic in the grand final, which resulted in the Woodsmen winning their first Subbies premiership, in just their second season in the competition.
Woodsmen coach Dan Schuppan said it was an unbelievable game of cricket.
“I don’t say this lightly as I’ve been around a fair while, I can confidently say this is the best game of cricket I’ve played in.
“Twelve hours of play and it comes down to the last ball in a grand final, just wow.”
There were plenty of heroes for both sides.
The Woodsmen made 6-251 on day one of the match.
Ross Horkings made his third century of the season, making 116 after him and Taylor Tatterson put on 102 for the first wicket partnership.
Schuppan said he deserved anything that he got.
“I can not speak on his behalf, but I would think he would say that is the best innings of his life. He’s Spotswood through and through and been part of the plan for the last five years.
“He deserves everything that comes his way.”
Schuppan said they were happy with 251 on the board with the wicket a hard one to get in on.
In front of a big crowd on day two, the Tigers were in trouble early on.
At 5-118 and behind the run rate, the Tigers had work to do.
Shaun Dean showed his class to keep his side in it, before James Freeman and Jonathon Burton came together.
They put on 62 for the seventh wicket partnership to take the score past 200.
The match came down to the final over.
Schuppan had the responsibility of bowling the final over. The Tigers needed 12 runs for the win.
“It was a bit of a mixed bag,” he said. “I thought it was going to be really hard to get 12 off the last over, but all it takes is one hit and credit to Burton who hit a six.
“Six off four balls is really achievable.”
Horkings would be the hero again for the Woodsmen. The wicketkeeper took a diving catch to dismiss Burton.
Schuppan said had that not gone to hand, it would have been game over and the Tigers would have won.
It came down to the final ball with the Tigers needing three runs. They could only manage one.
Not surprisingly, Horkings was named player of the match.
Schuppan said the premiership was special for everyone involved.
“Everyone involved at the club has put in a lot of hard work,” he said.
“All we wanted was respect in our first year, to get a premiership in our second year is just unfathomable.
“Words can’t describe it.”
