Tara Murray
All the hard work has paid for Bundoora in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association, winning the Money Shield premiership.
Having been more than 20 years since they had won a first XI flag it had been a long time between drinks for the club.
Coach Wayne Wunhym, who was part of that last premiership side, said it was pretty special.
“It was really fantastic,” he said. “It was a really good feeling.
“All the hard work that we’ve put in especially after Christmas, we turned it up a little more.
“Everything that we do, we didn’t drop off like last season.
“We did it the hard way losing eight wickets, we could have lost nine wickets as long as we got there.”
The Bulls needed to get 187 for victory on Saturday after keeping Eltham to 186 on day one.
Narinder Sharma took five wickets on day one.
The Bulls lost Prince Singh early on, before steadying and getting to 1-73. Nicholas Caracella was then run out before the Bulls continued on to be 3-159 and in control.
Then the wickets started to fall, to give the Bulls some nerves.
Able to steady and finished 8-188, hitting the winning runs with more than four overs to spare.
Shanin Silva top scored with 51.
Wunhym said there were a few nerves as the wickets started to fall. He said the guys just did their jobs like they had all season.
It was somewhat fitting that Jason Kaminski hit the winning runs.
“That was huge,” he said. “Especially after what he did in the semi final. He rolled his ankle and hurt his quad at the same time.
“He was only 50-50 to play. He came into the grand final at 75 per cent fit.
“After all the hard work he has done coaching the club over the years it was a great moment, He is the heart and soul of Bundoora.”
Wunhym said it was special for Stuart Adams as well, another player who had been at the club for a long time.
Sharma, who made 21 to go with his five wickets, was named player of the match.
Wunhym said the biggest key this season was that everyone brought into what they were doing.
“We recruited really well this season,” he said.
“Rubal Singh-Dhillon and Prince made a huge difference with the bat. Everyone knew what their roles were for the whole year.
“The structures we had in previous years also helped.”
The win means the club will be back in Barclay Shield next season, Wunhym said it was back where they wanted to be.
“Everyone wanted to go back up,” he said.
“We haven’t lost anyone with everyone recommitted for next season at this stage.
“It’s a good thing for the club.
“We maybe need one more guy, another bowler.
“We don’t want to go up and be a number, we want to be competitive.”
