By Lance Jenkinson
Sunshine United experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in a roller coaster final week in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
The Tigers were on cloud nine after securing the Kookaburra Twenty20 Cup for the second time in three seasons.
They repeated the dose against Keilor, the side they beat in the 2017-18 decider, winning by 14 runs at Joe Brown Recreation Reserve.
Tigers captain Daniel Norris was thrilled to see his side return to the top of the T20 mountain in the association.
“We’ve gone on a good run with T20,” he said. “We got through to the MCG game in the Regional Big Bash last year.
“It’s just been a format that’s really suited us.
“Our players seem to lift for T20 games.
“It’s kind of led us on into winning this week.”
The Twenty20 triumph created a good vibe within the Sunshine United camp as it attempted to stave off relegation from the top-flight senior division.
The Tigers were confronted with one of the toughest away games in the league, powerhouse Yarraville Club at Hansen Reserve.
Instead of running scared, Sunshine United went full steam ahead, upsetting the Clubbers by 55 runs.
“To win against Yarraville Club to try and save relegation, it’s a really great effort by the boys,” Norris said.
Even after the game, Sunshine United was not aware if it had been relegated or not. With third-placed Keilor losing to Druids they would at least leap-frog them on the ladder.
But the result that Sunshine United’s survival ultimately hinged on was second-last Strathmore’s game against St Albans.
The Mores beat St Albans by six runs and it led to Sunshine United being relegated by an agonising 0.02 per cent.
The Tigers could consider themselves stiff to go down with 36 competition points, but that is the brutal nature of two teams getting relegated from an eight-team competition.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sunshine United vs Yarraville Club
Norris was not making any excuses though. “The competition has been very even, but we probably let ourselves down a couple of times,” he said.
“Disappointed to get into the position that we were.
“When relegation was on the line, I was very impressed with the boys, but it was just not to be.”
Sunshine United will still cherish the win away to Yarraville Club on Saturday. A
fter posting 147, thanks largely to 39 from man of the match Roshan Laksiri, the Tigers rolled the finals-bound Clubbers for just 92.
Left arm off spinner Laksiri capped a superb game with 5-18 off 14.2, while frontline bowler Tom O’Brien took 4-25 off 13.
“Tommy O’Brien has been absolutely sensational all year,” Norris said.
“It’s his second year at the club and he’s just got better and better.
“[Laksiri] just did what he always does.
“He bowled on the spot and they just threw their wickets away.”
St Albans will carry the hopes of Brimbank in the senior division finals.
The Saints will face Doutta Stars in the semi-final this weekend.
