Queanbeyan District Cricket Club have gone back-to-back in the ACT Premier First Grade Men’s Douglas Cup Grand Final, in what has been described as one of the most exciting finals in cricket ACT history.
Queanbeyan took on North Canberra-Gungahlin cricket club on the 21st of March at EPC Solar Park. The defending champions were looking to back up last year’s performance, while Norths were out to secure their first ever premiership in club history.
Day 1
It was an ugly start for Queanbeyan. Unexpected rain created some sporting conditions and, having lost the toss, Queanbeyan were sent in to bat on a difficult and green pitch.
Queanbeyan’s top order crumbled and they were 4/58 early on, leaving the favourites looking like anything but.
Some controversial umpire decisions added to the frustrations for Queanbeyan and the tail were quickly dismissed, all out for just 112 runs.
Queanbeyan wicket keeper Michael McNamara said, “We were super disappointed with our start, but at the same time we understood that we’d probably gotten the worst of the conditions, and that if we stayed with it we could put them in a tough position for the following day.”
Norths began their first innings in the last hour of play. Their two opening bats were quickly dismissed leaving Norths 2 for 17 at stumps.
Day 2
The motivated Queanbeyan squad came out firing on day 2 and had the Norths top order in all sorts of trouble at 5/87 before heading in to lunch.
Norths batsmen, Tom Henry and Nicholas Kent, put on a steady partnership, each raising their bats as they reached the 50 run milestone.
However, the partnership came to an end not long after, and the tail followed quickly. Norths were ultimately bowled out for 180.
Leading by 68 runs, the game remained very much in the balance.
Day 3
An impending sense of pressure and anticipation loomed on day 3. But it was Queanbeyan’s young guns who seemed completely at ease in the heat of the moment.
At 3/77, Raakin Rahman and Michael McNamara took control, scoring at a rate of nearly a run a ball as they each raced to the 50-run milestone.
Rahman’s impressive knock came to an end at 69, bringing the seasoned Zac Beveridge to the crease.
The Veteran quickly joined the act, reaching 47 off 47 balls, while McNamara continued on his brilliant performance, advancing to 83 off 78 balls.
“I was full of adrenaline and that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been batting. But I was stoked, for the first time in a few days there was a real belief amongst the group that we could actually get this done.”
Michael McNamara
Queanbeyan reached a lead of 220 runs, and decided to declare, leaving themselves 84 overs to dismiss Norths, and Norths the goal of chasing the total, or, avoiding being bowled out to win on first innings.
The Queanbeyan bowlers wasted no time and dismissed opening batsman Sam Watmough at 1/13.
Things seemed to be going Queanbeyan’s way as the former Raiders Star, Sam Williams, was run out in a costly mix up for just 5 runs in the first ball after lunch.
But North’s batsmen dug in yet again.
The third-wicket partnership of Henry (4 off 67 balls) and Riaz (14 off 95 balls) put up a defiant stand.
A breakthrough finally came from Zac Beveridge as he dismissed Henry in the 45th over.
ACT cricket Veteran and spectator Ian McNamee said, “I’ve never seen a game with so many twists and turns. It was a lot to keep up with. Lots of excitement … you just didn’t know what way it was going to go.”
With Norths still three wickets in hand and the day’s end approaching, Queanbeyan turned to spin. It was then that another vital breakthrough was made, as Brunker claimed two LBWs.
In the last hour of play and with just seven overs to go the final wicket tumbled. A perfect delivery from Beveridge and stumping from keeper McNamara sent Riaz on his way and clinched an 88 run victory for Queanbeyan.
McNamara says it is the most exciting grand final he has ever been a part of.
“I’ve never seen or heard of a team winning on reverse outright, especially in a grand final, so yeah it was very exciting.”
Michael McNamara
This marked the first time since 1991 that a team lost in the first innings and came back to win the match and premiership.
“It is one of the most exciting games I have seen in my time … they’re a group that plays for each other and that have a great culture, it was just so good to see them turn things around.”
Ian McNamee
No doubt a monumental moment for the Queanbeyan District Cricket Club as they add another chapter to this club’s rich history and legacy.
Photos by Abby Solway