AXE Creek cricketer Zachary Taig will long remember his first ever five wicket-haul.
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It didn't happen for his beloved Cowboys team, but rather for the Victorian all-abilities team at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships in Geelong last week.
Taig collected the outstanding figures of 5-11 in a win against Tasmania last Wednesday.
His success with the ball was the sign of things to come for Taig and his Axe Creek teammate Ben Kenyon, with the pair ending the tournament as key contributors in a championship victory.
The Victorians - known as the Vikings - dropped just one match for the tournament on the way to becoming the inaugural winners of the all abilities competition for players with an intellectual disability.
It was a proud moment for Taig, Kenyon and their Axe Creek all-abilities team coach Rob Fisher.
"I brought Zach and Ben across from Harcourt after I moved to Axe Creek Cricket Club to start the all abilities cricket program ... Zach was actually one of the founding members," Fisher said.
"He's been with me since the start of the program and Ben I met a few years ago and has been playing cricket on-and-off most of his life.
"Since he's started the all abilities program he's become a regular.
"The guys put their hand up to play as often as they can including when they can in the mainstream Emu Valley association competition in our Axe Creek thirds."
The Vikings played a series of seven Twenty20 against the best players from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
It was the first championship of its kind with players participating in three divisions - deaf and hearing impaired, blind and vision impaired and cricketers with an intellectual disability.
Taig and Kenyon's passion for cricket finds them travelling to Melbourne some weekends to play in the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association Super League, with Axe Creek being the only country-based team competing.
The duo's travel load increased while undertaking selection trials and training in the lead-up to the championships.
Fisher said he could not be prouder of their achievements with the Vikings.
"The boys had a great time in Geelong and it is opportunities like this that makes all of the hard work and long hours worthwhile," he said.
"As the coach of Ben and Zach, I would like to thank the Axe Creek Cricket Club for embracing my all abilities program and Interchange Loddon Mallee Region for their continued sponsorship.
"Without their support opportunities like this would not be possible."