By Tara Murray
Hoppers Crossing fell at the final hurdle as it was unable to come away with the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association south-west premiership.
Playing off in their first Subbies grand final on the weekend, the Cats took on a Caulfield side full of experience that had come to the fore at the right time of the season.
After a solid first day with the ball, the Cats bats failed to fire on Sunday which saw them on the end of a big loss.
Cats captain-coach Simon Lambert said while disappointing, they had made some massive inroads this season.
“It was one step too far,” he said. “It was a disappointing way to end the season.
“We had a successful season overall. I was so proud of us that we got as far as we did.
“Had someone offered me a T20 flag and a grand final at the start of the season, I would have bitten their hand off.”
Lambert said Caulfield’s experience really shone through when it counted in the grand final.
He had predicted before the finals that a team could win it from sixth spot, which was exactly what happened.
“You look through their line up and a lot of experience in district first XI cricket with half the team over 35.
“They have a hell of a lot of experience and won a lot of things. In big games that experience helps.
“Half our team is under-23 and it was a mismatch in terms of experience.”
Lambert said to have even made the grand final it was a massive effort after losing Daryl Sunder Ferrario and Shijit Chandran Poovathingal through the season.
The Cats won the toss and decided to bowl on Saturday on its home deck.
Caulfield made the most of the conditions early on.
“At 1-170 we were looking at chasing 350,” Lambert said. “The way we fought back to keep them to 260, which on the previous week was about par if not just under, was really good.
“The pitch was better on Sunday as well.”
Harshit Takkar took five wickets for the Cats to be the pick of the bowlers.
Not for the first time this season, the Cats failed to fire with the bat.
There was no late innings comeback, with the side bowled out for just 92 in 29 overs.
Bibek Virk top scored with 25.
Lambert said luck didn’t go their way but said their performance with the bat had been a trend all season.
“We played our grand final the week before,” he said.
Lambert said the experience of this season would be good for the group and he said it would be something that they would look to build on in the future.
He said they hoped that they could keep the group together,
“We are a young side and aren’t blessed with any big names,” he said. “Having Darryl and Shijit could have had a different result.
“Hopefully the guys hold onto the pain and they can fight back and be better and stronger next year.”
