THIS is the year of the Blues. So close to premiership glory so many times, Ballan finally won its first Ballarat Cricket Association district division one title.
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The Blues made this title their own on Saturday, a little after tea break at White Flat, and wiped out Lucas’ final hopes for a premiership three-peat.
They entered day three with a 76-run lead from the first innings. Play was very much still in the balance.
Their bowling attack, once again led by all-rounder Zac Graham, efficiently chipped through Lucas, who held a slim 42-run buffer when Ballan took up the bat.
By tea, Ballan needed two more wickets – Ben Loughnane grabbed both in the first over back – then the Blues could just bat their way to victory, dropping one wicket on the way.
Blues captain Mick Nolan did most of the work in polishing off the winning reply. Nolan finished unbeaten on 34 runs.
The victory caps off an impressive season for the Blues, who finished runners-up in the BCA Twenty20 and had playing-coach Noel Heafield capture the Bernie Davey Medal as the division one best and fairest.
Heafield said this had been a super season.
“It’s been one of those ones where we’ve started to click a bit,” he said.
“The young guys we’ve got are now in their early 20s and confidence is up in their ability.
“... We’ve always been thereabouts. To win (the premiership) is great for the club and community as well.
“The team’s all local boys; most have come through our juniors.”
Heafield said the Blues were confident through the week they had what it took to win the title. Jibes from rivals had only added incentive.
The Blues ousted Lucas openers Jay Anderson and Brad Allan cheaply, 2-12, leaving Jake Pring to try and repair the order with his 30 runs.
Lucas captain Kayne Wilson (32 runs) worked to bolster his team through the middle order but lacked support.
His was the last wicket to fall.
Loughnane finished with 3-19 off 6.4 overs. Graham, who took three wickets and made an unbeaten 92 runs in the first innings, nabbed 2-28 and shouldered the bowling with 15 overs.
Taking the title a day early, the Blues kept playing on Sunday in a celebratory round of indoor cricket back at their clubrooms.
SCOREBOARD
BALLAN 269 (Zac Graham 92 not out, Mick Nolan 49, Jarryd Graham 36; Ross Waters 3-38 and Andrew Hill 3-46) and 1-46 (Mick Nolan 34 not out) d LUCAS 193 (Nick Young 42, Mark Gittins 38, Jake Pring 36; Zac Graham 3-38) and 118 (Kayne Wilson 32; Ben Loughnane 3-19) at White Flat