Wodonga Raiders posted one of the greatest upsets in the competition's 161-year history against premiers North Albury on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IN OTHER NEWS:
- All-conquering Rand still the team to beat in CAW Hume
- Purcell rides the applause to win Wodonga bull showcase
- Culture shines at Border Indian festival
Apart from a T20 win over New City last season when the club snapped a 44-match losing streak, the club hadn't won a longer version game since toppling Belvoir in February, 2015.
In fact, since joining provincial in 2013-14, Raiders have won the association's six wooden spoons.
Raiders posted 172 in the 50-over match and bowled out the visitors - who were unbeaten in five games across the two formats - for 162.
"The celebrations at the end were a little like a grand final win," captain Leigh Clarke said.
"It was just good to see the joy on the young blokes' faces that have been kicked in the guts so many times over and over again."
North sent the home club in and Clarke maintains it was weather-related.
"They sent us in and thought they were going to roll through us, but it backfired on them," he said.
"They may have pencilled in a win with weather around, that was probably the best plan."
But the rain never eventuated and Raiders completed the season-defining win at 5.40pm.
Tom Bracher (62) and Jesse Griffiths (48) combined in a 56-run fourth wicket stand, with the team losing its last six wickets for 15 chasing quick runs.
Jake Burge, who joined North from Queensland this season, grabbed the last six scalps to finish with 7-12.
North fell to 3-30 before Tom Hemsley and Ash Borella posted a 42-run stand.
Borella was dismissed for 33 from 32 deliveries, with Hemsley (5-109), Ryan Addison (6-131), Greg Daniel (7-137), Haydyn Roberts (8-147) and Callum Langlands (9-158) leaving the last pair with 15 for victory.
Burge had the chance to complete a memorable day, along with Matt Dennerley.
The match had one more twist with Jonathan Carson set to bowl the final over.
"The umpire originally thought he'd bowled nine, but he had actually 10, so I looked around the field and Tommy (Bracher) was an obvious choice as he'd already bowled, he's had a good day with the bat and hopefully he can finish it off," Clarke said.
"We thought Burge would hit over the top, he swiped at one and missed."
When off-spinner Bracher broke the stumps, it was his only wicket but he's never had a more important one as Raiders celebrated.