SOUTH West Cricket is celebrating its greatest success after winning division two at Melbourne Country Week last Friday.
Their victory saw the team make 8-200 off 37 overs defeating Bairnsdale’s 177 in the 37th over at Camberwell Sports Ground.
Team manager and South West Cricket president Keith Baker said he was overwhelmed by the win.
“I’m ecstatic. The boys have been together for about five years and we just keep surprising ourselves,” he said.
The win followed South West Cricket’s division four win in 2009, division three win in 2010 and third place finish in division two last year.
Mr Baker said the start of the match was delayed and therefore shortened after a big downpour on the Thursday night.
“When we arrived at the ground the pitch we were playing beside was dampened, so we couldn’t get on the ground until 12pm.
“The game was meant to start at 10.15am, so instead of 50 overs each it was reduced to 37 overs each,” he said.
Mr Baker said it was a close game in the last few overs.
“Fortunately our boys caught them out and we won in the second last over for 177,” he said.
His son Simon Baker was named man of the match after impressive batting making 75 off 84 balls.
“Travis Brown made 40 off 43 balls, Clinton Baker made 34 off 18 and Oliver Fitzpatrick made 23 off 18.
“A good batting side really makes all the difference at Country Week.
“The boys are a tight-knit group and a fantastic lot of all-rounders,” he said.
Team captain Steven Castle said the team’s lack of training together had not affected their ultimate goal of moving to first division for next year’s Melbourne Country Week.
“We don’t get much of an opportunity to train together as a team with members just playing for their local clubs. But all the boys are very competitive and have a focus to perform at the Country Week,” Mr Castle said.
“To get the opportunity to play at the highest level is a fantastic feeling for us all.”
Mr Baker said the team was looking forward to next year’s Melbourne Country Week.
“They’re all very excited about seeing what sides like Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo are like next year,” he said.