JAKE Pring hit the ball over mid-on, made two runs with Steve Barnett, and play paused – Lucas players were mentally calculating whether they had achieved glory or whether they were still a run or two away.
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The moment was short.
Lucas collectively erupted, and players raced on to the field to celebrate with their batsmen at Dunnstown.
They eclipsed a valiant Burrumbeet with one wicket in hand and 11 balls to spare, to capture back-to-back premiership glory in Ballarat Cricket Association district division one.
Burrumbeet, featuring in its first final for a decade, had been trying to achieve the club’s first flag in 20 years.
Lucas captain Kayne Wilson said the four-day battle could easily have gone either way in close wicket calls through both innings.
“I must admit at the start of the year we had a big turnover of players and I wasn’t sure how we’d go then we started playing all right ... I couldn’t be more proud,” Wilson said.
“Burrumbeet – that was one great effort from them, they’ve had a good season and that was a great grand final.”
The Beet carried a 123-run lead into day three on Saturday, and built a 223-run winning target for Lucas.
Wayne Martin chalked up a half-century and the tail faded but it was still a strong enough tally to defend.
And their bowlers struck early enough to cause Lucas headaches at 4-79 – the bulk of runs made by opener Jay Anderson in his 52 runs.
Enter Pring.
He played the ball smart, teaming up first with his skipper Wilson in a 67-run fifth-wicket stand, then effectively bolstering the lower order with Russell Brookes (25 runs).
Pring remained unbeaten on 71 runs.
Brookes, who held strong as the overs ticked down, had played a starring role to collect hauls of 4-44 and 3-28 across two innings.
Wilson said it was a fantastic team effort, from both teams, to cap off the season.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au