UNITED stormed to its first Emu Valley Cricket Association division one premiership in eight years, with a 182-run win over Emu Creek at Strathfieldsaye.
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Inspired performances from Alex and Andy Collins set up the grand final win.
On Saturday, the siblings combined for an EVCA grand final record partnership of 293 for the second wicket.
Alex joined Andy at the crease in the seventh over with the score at 1-22.
58 overs later Alex was dismissed for 141 with the score on 315.
Andy fell a short time later for a majestic 158.
Their partnership set up United’s massive total of 371 off 75 overs.
On Sunday, Alex Collins destroyed any hope Emu Creek had of giving the big run chase a shake.
The opening bowler claimed 6-54 off 21 overs to cap one of the most remarkable individual performances seen in EVCA history.
Shane Hamilton was last man out for Emu Creek, falling five runs short of what would have been a well-deserved century.
“This is my fourth year at United and we hadn’t won a flag the previous three years, even though we had some good sides,’’ Alex Collins said.
“So to win it this year and give the club a 16th flag in the past 30-odd years is really satisfying.”
Alex hit 12 fours and seven sixes in his 141, while Andy smashed 24 fours in his 158.
“Emu Creek bowled well early on and I thought if we could get through to first drinks and then tea break, then we’d be able to have some fun later on,’’ Alex said.
“We bat pretty deep, so it was all about setting the team up. Luckily we were able to go on with it.”
In his first season with United, Andy was elated with the win.
“It’s great for the club,’’ he said.
“There’s people around the club like Josh White’s grandfather who come and support us every week. To see the smile on his face after we won is very satisfying.”
Andy's 158 was the highest score of his career.
He showed few nerves in the 90's - racing from 94 to 114 with five boundaries.
United skipper Forbes Klemm lauded Andy and Alex for their batting heroics.
"You hope in a final that one of your top batsmen can get a big score, but to have two of them go on and make big 100's was fantastic,'' Klemm said.
"We couldn't have asked for more."
Klemm said the premiership success was a "relief".
"We've been around the mark for a few years without winning, so it's good to finally win one,'' he said.
United also tasted premiership success in division four.
The Tigers tamed hot favourites Spring Gully by five wickets on Saturday.
United bowled Spring Gully out for 122, with Lachlan Knowles claiming four wickets.
John Van Der Hagen (33 not out) and Allan Colbert (32) guided United to victory.
In division two, Golden Gully celebrated its first EVCA premiership in any grade when it upset minor premier Mandurang.
Golden Gully looked in trouble when it was dismissed for just 131.
However, Mandurang's batsmen crumbled at the hands of Golden Gully medium-pacer's Brad Webster and Seb Olle.
Webster claimed 5-29 off 21.3 overs and Olle took 5-19 off 15 overs as Mandurang crashed to be all out for just 70.
It was better news for Mandurang in division three.
The Rangas proved too strong for Maiden Gully in their grand final at Ewing Park.
Mandurang compiled 8-240 off its 60 overs, with Drew Cathcart (79) and Tom Shatwell (63) in fine form.
In reply, Maiden Gully (200) looked a strong chance when it raced to 2-140.
However, the dismissal of Brad Kinder (95) changed the momentum of the match.
Mandurang's Andrew Hancock took a hat-trick to rip the heart out of the Maiden Gully middle-order.