Was a quadriceps tear ever going to keep Michael Ninneman out of Ginninderra's bid to win their first Douglas Cup in 26 years? "Absolutely not, no way".
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Lucky it didn't, because the South African-born quick claimed 10 wickets for the match to help the Tigers to Cricket ACT's grand prize in a chaotic three-day grand final at Phillip Oval.
Twenty-five wickets fell on a miraculous day three as Weston Creek Molonglo folded for a near-record low to gift the Tigers an outright 85-run victory on Sunday.
Ninneman claimed match figures of 10-93 wickets while Jak Willcox's stunning second innings haul (5-11) saw Creek skittled for 71 in the second dig to end their title defence.
"I tore my quad in the semi-final last week but I just tried to do everything I could during the week to rehab it. I tried to put it out of my mind and play my heart out in the last game of the season with nothing to lose," Ninneman said.
"I was doing whatever I could to get it right. It played up a little bit but I just did what I could to compensate for it and tried to put it in the back of my head.
"It was incredible honestly. We had a lot of help from the pitch, all the bowlers chipped in and everyone put in the effort. It’s not at all an individual performance, that’s as good a team performance as ever.
"Jak Willcox, his bowling really brought the game back for us. Jak was unreal honestly, Jak was every much a part of that win as he possibly could have been. Jarryd Hatton, the way he batted and bowled to get the first innings win was just incredible.
"I’m obviously new to the club but there are so many people here that have been long serving members of the club who have waited 26 years to see that win.
"It meant a lot to them, it meant a lot to the boys that have been playing here right throughout juniors."
Day one was lost to rain and Creek began day two at 5-66 in pursuit of Ginninderra's 193. Ninneman cleaned house with 6-54 to roll the opposition for 116. The Tigers just had to occupy the crease and "Dougy" was theirs.
Within an hour the Tigers were floundering at 4-13. Angus Le Lievre (36) and Jordie Misic (13) were the only players to notch double figures as Ginninderra folded for 79 following a Djali Bloomfield masterclass (4-31).
Creek's pursuit of back-to-back premierships had been revived, set 157 for victory with about three hours to play on a minefield.
Enter Willcox, the only Tigers player with links to that historic title of 1992-93 through his uncle. The Ginninderra quick tore Creek's top order to shreds to leave them at 5-12 and in serious danger of posting their lowest total in club history.
Then came Ninneman, picking up his 10th for the match as the defending premiers fell to 9-38 before tailenders Bloomfield (seven not out) and Aidan Cowie (26) ultimately saved Creek from the ignominy of a record low.
"I still feel like I’m living in a dream and I’m about to wake up," Healy said.
"It was something else, I can’t really describe it. It means so much to this group. We’ve put in so much hard work, and to Dicky [Mick Delaney] who has led it, and everyone around the team.
"It’s also about a club that has been through so much pain and heartache for 26 years. For us to be able to bring Dougy home for them, as they say, is just something really special."
AT A GLANCE
Cricket ACT grand finals -
Douglas Cup (first grade): GINNINDERRA 193 (A Sharma 61; H Medhurst 4-50) and 79 (A Le Lievre 36; D Bloomfield 4-31) bt WESTON CREEK MOLONGLO 116 (R Trickett 32; M Ninneman 6-54) and 71 (A Cowie 26; J Willcox 5-11) by 85 runs at Phillip Oval.
Lynne O'Meara Cup (women’s): WESTERN DISTRICT-UC 6-189 (C Taylor 103; scorecard incomplete) bt NORTH CANBERRA GUNGAHLIN 98 (A Jones 42; N Woods 4-13) by 91 runs at Kaleen Turf Oval.
Second grade: ANU 202 (R Starr 55; M Khan 4-27) bt WESTERN DISTRICT-UC 161 (C Lillepruun 36; J Hogan 4-24) and 4-28 (P McKell 11; L Pedley 2-12) on first innings at Jamison Oval.
Third grade: ANU 155 (J Allen 50; D Chovatiya 6-42) bt GINNINDERRA 145 (L Reid 29; L Santinon 6-42) on first innings at Kippax Oval.
Fourth grade: QUEANBEYAN 8-162 (M O’Rourke 30; L Bugden 2-17) bt ANU 161 (G Badcock 53; K Ditton 4-49) on first innings at Freebody Oval.
Fifth grade: GINNINDERRA BLACK 135 (A Dwivedi 44; G Alexander 4-23) bt QUEANBEYAN 129 (M Paton 34*; A O’Connor 4-28) by six runs at Neil Bulger Oval.
