By Tara Murray
Manor Lakes pulled off an upset to claim the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association E.Cocks and B.Haining Shield.
Manor Lakes finished the regular season in third spot and won through to the grand final against Williams Landing with an upset win against West Point Titans.
The upsets continued into the grand final, with the Storm able to overcome the minor premiers.
Secretary Debasis Dash said it was a massive moment for the club.
“Last season we made the semi finals but due to weather conditions it had to be called off and we missed out as we were the lower ranked side,” he said.
“This time round we had a couple of close matches and we qualified for the semi finals and then the final.”
Neeraj Kush was star for the Storm in the final series with his batting help taking the game away from the opposition in both matches.
Dash said he wasn’t in the greatest touch heading into the finals, but found form when it mattered.
In the grand final, Williams Landing batted first and made 7-150 from its 35 overs.
Dash said they were happy to chase that score.
“With the heat and everything to restrict them, it was really good,” he said. “We thought to keep them to a 150-180 score would have been a good job.
“They had some dangerous bats in the middle and we were able to restrict them and we were really happy with 150.”
Vishal Modi top scored for Williams Landing with 50.
Taranjeet Singh took three wickets for the Storm.
Kush set the tone early with the bat for the Storm.
He finished 84 not out off 69 balls as he helped guide his side to 3-153 in 24 overs. Kush had made 85 in the semi finals as well.
Dash said while anything can happen in a run chase, Kush made the job easier from everyone else.
“He took the pressure off,” he said. “When someone is striking at more than 100 per cent you just support them and make singles.
“You don’t need to play big shots.”
The premiership was the Storm’s first in division 1, having won lower grades before.
Dash said it was a massive achievement for the club.
The division 2 team just fell short of making the grand final, while the club’s division 6 side and two under-13 teams, girls and boys, who won premierships.
Dash said the aim of the club was to push up some of their lower sides up the grades to close the gap.
“They would love to have sides in division 3 and 4,” he said. “We would also love to have a couple more teams.”
The club is always keen on growing its junior program as well and adding some more experienced coaches.
