Bomber bliss: Waaia completes fairytale finish to claim under-16B decider

Mar 7, 2023

Happy days: Waaia players celebrate the premiership.

Waaia defied the odds and etched its name into the history books following a remarkable under-16B grand final win last week.

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With one win to its name before the Cricket Shepparton finals series commenced last month, Waaia capped its cinderalla story by defeating the heavily-fancied Northerners in a memorable decider.

The Bombers had yet to defeat Northerners all summer and had finished the season on the bottom of the table with one win — but they got the job done in the match that counted.

The two-day game kicked off at Tallygaroopna on February 24 with Waaia choosing to bat first.

Waaia’s Hughie Stammers and Will Trower headed to the crease to open the batting account.

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On the front foot: Waaia's Tom Daniel.

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What a spell: Waaia's Will Trower celebrates one of his five wickets.

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Party time: Waaia celebrate the win.

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Crunch: Waaia's Kaleb Gilmour.

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Let it rip: Waaia's Jayden Edgar.

The duo stood strong until Stammers went cheap for three runs, with Nate Summerville the next to fall and Waaia was suddenly 2-13.

Kaleb Gilmour and Tom Daniel then steadied the ship and combined for a 69-run partnership.

Gilmour made a stunning half-century and his innings came to end on 54 runs when he was caught in the field with Waaia 4-106.

The Bombers then endured a batting collapse and finished all out on 117.

Returning to Tallygaroopna last Friday night, Waaia had to find something special to defeat Northerners.

Enter Trower.

The opening quick jagged the first wicket with his second delivery of the match.

Northerners steadied and regrouped until Jayden Edgar (2-13) picked up two crucial scalps.

The Jets’ Bayden Hutchins top-scored for his side with 30 runs off 72 deliveries, but Gilmour was able to send him marching on his way in the 23rd over which left Northerners 4-55.

With damaging duo Jake and Zavier Davidson at the crease, Waaia had to find another quick wicket.

Opportunity came knocking with Trower ripping out Zavier’s middle stump and the Bombers began to believe of a fairytale.

The Jets responded and reached 19 runs for victory required with more than 10 overs left in the contest.

But it was Trower again who stood tall.

The young talent claimed the final two wickets with consecutive balls to finish with figures of 5-10 off 6.5 overs and more importantly, deliver Waaia an incredible victory.