Tara Murray
Bundoora Park’s dominance of the Northern Region T20 competition has continued with the club winning a second straight title on Tuesday night.
The Thunderbolts proved too good for the Lalor Stars in the final to make it two titles in as many years.
Coach Kristian Doddato said they were pretty stoked to claim the title again.
“It starts out as a bit of fun and then at the later stages it starts to heat up,” he said.
“The players prefer to play then train and we can get the juniors down and they watch.
“Once we are out of the group stage we start to take it more seriously.”
The Thunderbolts took in a similar line up to this season’s grand final as they did last year.
Doddato said they had taken a lot out of last season’s competition, especially from marquee player Shupinder Taggar, who wasn’t part of this season’s team.
This season Thunderbolts junior Tarwan Rennie returned to his former club as a marquee player.
Doddato said the grand final was one of plenty of twists and turns.
“We were in trouble early,” he said. “The Stars’ marquee player [Ricky Damiano] had all the answers early on.
“Once we got him out and got a couple of run outs, we thought we were in with a chance.
“It was a sturdy total we thought we were capable of chasing.”
The Stars were bowled out for 156 on the final ball.
Damiano made 38, while Jamie Scott chipped in with 48.
Rubal Singh-Dhillon was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets.
It was the Rennie show in the Thunderbolts innings.
“He batted beyond his years,’ Doddato said.
“He seemed to have every shot and an answer to what they were throwing at him.”
The Thunderbolts finished 3-157, hitting the winning runs with four overs to go.
Rennie, who was the unofficial player of the match, made 73 off 38 balls including 10 fours and four sixes.
The Thunderbolts don’t have long to celebrate with the side back in action on Saturday in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield.
The third-placed Thunderbolts face Eltham.
Doddato said the T20 experience would help them in their normal weekend competition.
“It’s an experience in a high pressure environment,” he said.
“There was a decent crowd down there and it was a tense game and we have the confidence to work through tough times.
“We have timed our run a little bit better. Normally we are the bolter of the pack, this year we have started slow and just hitting our straps.”
The club will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in a couple of weeks with a function at the club, with several past players will be in attendance.
