Led by a special performance from league best-and-fairest winner Liam Evans, Nathalia was able to cruise to its first A-grade premiership in six years.
Looking to cause an upset over the minor premier Nathalia, Barooga made 134 in the first innings.
But the total was not enough, with a magnificent innings from Evans— last year’s Cricket Shepparton Lightfoot Medal winner — who powered his side to 5-138 and a five-wicket triumph.
It was a fitting end to the season for Nathalia, who lost one game all season and finished the home and away campaign on top of the ladder.
On the opening day of the two-day encounter on Saturday, Barooga won the toss and elected to bat.
But the Hawks were in trouble from the start — Jamie Stanyer was bowled for a duck and Nathan Gossayn was skittled too with Barooga at 2-5 early on.
The wickets kept tumbling as Evans (4-40) and Clancy Congues (3-20) made it tough going for Barooga’s bats.
The Hawks found themselves at 8-55, but a resilient half-century of 58 from William Sharp and 34 from Mitchell Richmann pushed Barooga’s total beyond 130.
Defending 134 was always going to be tough, but Barooga got off to a hot start on day two on Sunday.
Sharp (1-21) and Brendan Lewis (1-24) had Nathalia’s openers Samuel Boyd and Scotty Morris out early, with the minor premier dropping to 2-10.
But that brought Evans to the crease and he steered Nathalia to victory with a knock of 82 not out, winning Nathalia the game and himself the best-on-ground award.
With Nathalia at 3-27, Evans and Ewan Congues (17) put on an 81-run partnership that had their side in the box seat.
Barooga’s Kale Watkins (2-31) took two late wickets, but it wasn’t enough to stop Nathalia from surpassing the Hawks’ total in the 50th over.
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