Rosanna creates history, Bundoora ends long drought

Rosanna has made history after claiming its first Barclay Shield premiership with a batsman’s match defining innings and a bowler’s crazy figures the keys.

Brayden May

@braydenjmay

2 min read

March 27, 2023 - 3:32PM

Whittlesea Leader

Local Cricket

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Every premiership is special – but there’s something about homegrown success which carries extra weight.

On Saturday, Rosanna broke through for its first Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield title after overcoming Epping by 95 runs.

Eight players in the team had come through the junior system while the remaining three had given more than 30 years service to the club between them.

“It’s very much a team that we’ve built from within,” club president Mick Langford said on Monday.

“One of our goals as a club is to continue building from our junior teams. We want people to come and play for our club.

“It’s not just a team but it’s a group of mates. We had a lot of success as a club when we were in the Heidelberg District competition but having our first Barclay Shield success means a lot.

“From the players and coaches to the life members, everyone had a connection to this win.

“We have a life member of over 50 years, when you see the tears of joy on his face, you realise what it means.

“A lot of credit has to guy to our captain Sam Sheehan who led this group extremely well.”

Rosanna is celebrating its first Barclay Shield premiership.

Played across two weekends, Rosanna posted 9-173 on day one after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Opener Nick Horsford, who was awarded the Mark Minney medal for player of the match, got through a tough opening period when his side fell to 2-6 before posting an important 64.

In response, Epping experienced a stunning collapse before being bowled out for 78 – losing 10 wickets for 44 after being 0-34.

Nick Carlton was the pick of the bowlers with 3-2 but Aayat Khanna’s 2-4 off 16 overs including 14 maidens can’t be understated.

He was scored against on just two deliveries.

“It was a fantastic display of bowling from everyone, the boys bowled beautifully,” Langford said.

“The innings from Nick was probably almost the difference between the two sides when you look just at the scoreboards. He dug in and put us in a really competitive position after we were in big trouble early.”

Langford said he hopes this Rosanna side would stay together but says change is part of the game.

“If one of the young blokes wanted to play district cricket or at a higher level we’d be fully supportive of that,” he said.

“We want our young players to be getting the best out of themselves, at our club or at a higher level.”