IT was history in the making as Sunshine outplayed Werribee in the first round of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association's inaugural Twenty20 competition at Chirnside Park last Tuesday night.
With captain-coach Warren Suares unavailable because of work commitments, the inexperienced line-up performed superbly to shock the Tigers, who'd been strengthened by the inclusion of 'guest' player and young gun batsman Travis Dean from Footscray Edgewater in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition.
The win was a thrill for stand-in captain Troy Stone.
Batting first, the Crows hit-up 9-137 with David Bonavia top-scoring with 27 at No. 6.
Matt Stone chipped in with 21 at No.8.
Werribee could manage only 9-116 in reply. Experienced opening bowler Andrew Webb played a starring role with 3-23 from four overs.
He captured the prize wicket of homegrown product Dean, who opened, for three.
"I got him LBW. He walked across his stumps and it kept low. It was a bit unfortunate [for him]. It skidded on him a bit," he said.
It was the defining moment of the match.
An Australian under-17 representative, Dean shaped as the likely matchwinner.
He'd blasted an impressive 67 from 88 deliveries as the Bulldogs blitzed Melbourne University in a one-dayer at the picturesque Melbourne University Oval the previous Saturday.
The man of the moment received fine support from 'DK' Tharindu and Shane Jones, who chimed in with two wickets apiece.
Webb praised the "unbelievable" fielding of fourth XI player Nick Wilson, who pocketed two catches as well as affecting a run out with a direct hit from near the boundary.
"That run out really got everyone going," Webb said.
He added one of Wilson's catches got rid of Tigers' captain-coach Paul Murray at a crucial stage.
Webb was delighted. "Everyone chipped in when it was their turn with the bat and the ball.
"We fielded really well. We held our catches. That was probably the difference."
He gave a pat on the back to the inclusions from lower XIs in Kane Twentyman and Anthony Neicho (second XI) as well as Wilson (fourth XI).
Webb added jubilant players were excited to lock arms and belt out a rousing rendition on the club's theme song in the dressingroom which was packed with supporters after the game.
"It was really good. We sang the song with the supporters who'd come along to cheer us on," he said.
Club vice-president Shayne Malcolm was cock-a-hoop with the result.
"We're an extremely young side and to come up trumps in our first game of the VSDCA's first Twenty20 competition is something everyone around the club will remember fondly for a long, long time."
He gave the thumbs up to side's batting. "We got the majority of our runs from quick singles," he said.
Sunshine host Melton at Dempster Park in the second round on Tuesday, November 24.
They play Williamstown at Point Gellibrand Oval in the third and final round on Tuesday, December 8.
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