Gous 90* makes Castle Rockers inaugural ETPL champions
Earlier, Trent Boult and Mark Watt kept Belfast Wolves to 150 for 5, which proved below par
Earlier, Trent Boult and Mark Watt kept Belfast Wolves to 150 for 5, which proved below par
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Alagappan Muthu
Thats it from the presentation. Thank you for your company. Goodbye.
Mitchell Santner, Edinburgh Castle Rockers captain: Every team sets out to win it and its been outstanding for the boys. Great group, great management as well. To win it in the first year is really good. First half we were outstanding in Voorburg. Over here, conditions changed. We played good cricket in the games we fell short. Qualified first. Got some rest. On a tricky wicket, boys put up good work today. We had a great squad. A few guys didn't get a chance to play and were gutted about. They still were very good around the group. We were very consistent. Couple of changes here and there but kept things very simple. Overseas players always set out somewhere new, to play new tournaments. The Hague, Malahide, it's been beautiful places, lots of golf. Hopefully this continues for a few more years.
Glenn Maxwell, Belfast Wolves captain: Any time you lose a final, you're disappointed. Hats off the the Edinburgh team. They've been outstanding throughout. Andries batted amazing and got them over the line. Would have called tails, I've been stewing on that. We were a little bit undermanned and needed a lot of things to go right. We missed an extra left-hander in the side today. They were able to attack us with spin and keep the scoring rate low. We were 15-20 under par. It's been great fun, coming over here and playing in two locations I've never played in. Groundstaff have been great getting games in with inclement weather. The players have all enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to many more years in this league. It's been a great start for us. Hopefully we can build on this and win it next year.
Faf du Plessis is the Most Valuable Player of the tournament
Brandon McMullen has been named the breakout player of the tournament: Been fantastic. Winning the trophy has been awesome. I think I was knocking the door with a couple of thirties in the beginning of the tournament. I just tried to play nice and freely and played my game and listened to my dad and put away the reverse sweep for a bit. I just stuck to my gameplans. I'm nice and strong down the ground. Learning from world class players, rubbing shoulders, playing with and against them. I've learnt a lot and it's been fantastic for all the Scottish, Irish and Dutch players. Hopefully we can defend the title next year. It's going to be awesome.
Andries Gous is the player of the match for his unbeaten 90 off 61: It's always nice winning finals. Nice to be able to contribute to a winning cause. So pretty happy. I thought I was playing well this tournament. Just didn't get the big score. Just told myself to be the guy staying on till the back end. I think it's just about trying to keep winning games, being the guy that doesn't leave it for anybody else. Didn't get it right the whole season but hopefully today it came through. Small things I changed mentally. Be the guy at the end. Take your time. Make sure that you focus. Things like that.
Trent Boult: Great afternoon. The boys have deserved that. Our form slipped a bit in the end but great to win the trophy. Have you seen vice-captain on the sheet? I'll be back next year as full captain. Santner's gonna be busy.
Tom Curran: From day one, it felt like a pretty special group. Led by the locals, us internationals just put the cherry on top just when we needed to. Had a few challenges but we've played really well. Not hard with this guy {Boult], self appointed vice-captain. Gous has been magic all the way through. McMullen has stood out. Ross has shown power. I haven't had to do too much. Great to see the talent of the local players.
Gareth Delany: It's a good experience standing here as winners. Only knew one or two of the lads, everyone's been so welcoming
JJ Smuts: It's been an unbelievable tournament. We've thoroughly enjoyed it on and off the field. Finishing off with pretty much the perfect game too. It's been funny how well we've bonded, going for dinner, rounds of golf. I guess for me its about taking it a little bit at a time. It's a second life for me in cricket. I've really enjoyed playing for Italy. Ross has really done his role. He's been successful in most games.
Trevor Bayliss, Edinburgh coach: Fantastic tournament. Different group of guys in the change room. Everyone's gelled really well and the performances have shown. Obviously knew they did play. Didn't know any of the local players. Knew a few of their names. Some of them are really good players. Amsterdam and Rotterdam were two very good sides. Belfast were very good as well. Couple of teams struggled but the other four teams were all evenly matched. We played one poor game, against Rotterdam, in the other two games we lost, I thought we played decent cricket. So it was only about making small adjustments. Heading to Sydney next weekend.
Ross Adair: It's pretty tough playing against my brother. He's had my number most of the time but now it's nice to have this over him. Hitting from ball one is something I work on. You have to have a pretty thick skin to do what I do because it doesn't come off all the time. Really good to play with all these guys. I enjoyed Mark Watt's company, started to develop a Scottish twang to my accent now.
Jack Jarvis: We're absolutely buzzing. Dublin's nice big boundaries, wind is a big factor and the boys have taken some good catches. ETPL is massive for all of us to play with and against some of the best in the world. We don't get these opportunities often. Hopefully this continues.
Brandon McMullen: Pretty surreal moment. Roller-coaster ride through the tournament. Everyone is happy to lift the trophy. [Form] Couple of thirties in there that I'd have loved to crack on and make a big score. At the end of the day, we're champions. So can't complain. Sants has led the team really well. Humble leader. Can't speak highly of him and the group. Trent has been fantastic. The relaxed nature of the group has really helped. Gous has been awesome. He's a serious cricketer and I'm glad he's got the recognition he deserves
Been a glorious day and a fantastic game of cricket, says Edinburgh co-owner Kyle Mills. Biggest thing for me is culture and character and having calmness in the group. That's why Santner was our leader. He set the standard and a number of different players contributed to our wins. Look at McMullen, Jake Jarvis, they put their hand up and played a hand. I really hope they start thinking of themselves as some of the best franchise players in the world. They're not Associates. They belong in tournaments like the IPL, like the BBL.
5.10pm Santner and Gous get together. The celebrations begin in the Edinburgh Castle Rockers' camp. Santner's men are the inaugural ETPL champions. They were the best team in the group stage, topping the table with 13 points on superior net run-rate. They directly made the final and eased past Wolves in the title clash. Gous led their chase on a tricky pitch with an unbeaten 90 off 60 balls.
Anubhab Mukherj: "Been another stellar knock from Gous, after his tons for Vipers and Freedom in the last 12 months. Would be his 3rd Title (1x MLC, 1x ILT20, 1x ETPL)."
Maxwell brings himself back on. Wolves have only 10 to defend off 12 balls
Earlier, Trent Boult and Mark Watt kept Belfast Wolves to 150 for 5, which proved below par