Old Carey Cricket Club have comprehensively outplayed Mont Albert in the Dunstan Shield grand final to claim the 2025-26 premiership. Old Carey’s Jacob de Paiva was named player of the match by umpires Stephen Lennon and Mark Price. He took 5/31 from 21.3 overs. Their victory was set up by a dogged, no-frills batting performance on day 1 where they scored 183, followed by brilliant catching and bowling on day 2 to roll the hosts for just 86. See PlayHQ Scoreboard.
The visitors would have been delighted to win the toss and bat first. Mont Albert Reserve is renowned for teams being able to defend scores in the 150-180 range in finals due to the size of the ground and the thickly grassed outfield. The weather conditions were perfect all weekend.
Old Carey were in trouble early when Andrew Padbury picked up opener Luke Sharrock LBW in the second over of the game. The bowling of Padbury (1-36 from 16) and Chris Bridle (2-48 from 21) was excellent and even Ricky Khera natural attacking style was subdued (14 from 58) as the game was shaping up early on to be a grind. After Kheera was stumped off the bowling of Adam Ahmad, Herb Berridge and Tom Atkins then combined for the defining partnership of the match. The pair put on 57, contending with the relentlessly accurate left arm wrist spin of Adam Ahmed (4-31) from the northern end, and the rotation of the mediums at the other. Ahmed eventually dismissed Berridge (43 from 137) in the 50th over to leave the visitors 3/91. Matt Knox (16 from 36) played a nice cameo as he and Atkins looked to increase the tempo - when a 200+ score seemed a distinct possibility. However Ahmed struck again, picking up Knox to have Old Carey at 4/123 and the game back in the balance. Tom Atkins was too perturbed, and he opened his shoulders to move the game along. But an attempted ramp shot of Dan Bonnett went awry and he was out for what turned out to be the highest individual score of the match - 51 from 132 including 2 sixes and five boundaries. Nicholas Valentine (20-27)was hitting the ball nicely and going at a decent clip when he got a feather from an attempted hook shot off Chris Bridle in the 69th over with the score at 167. Jakob Devine (12 from 35) and Sam Morarty (14 from 30) ensured a 180 plus score to defend.
Mont Albert barely fired any shots back at Old Carey in the chase. Old Carey’s bowling was superb. Matched by exceptional catching and fielding. Jacob de Paiva was terrific with the ball from his first over, and held the Northern end for most of the day, claiming a ‘5fa’ with figures of 5/31 off 21.3 overs and 10 maidens. He was well supported by skipper Sam Morarty at the other end who took 3/31 off 20 overs (including 12 maidens). Ben Jowett, after picking up the early breakthrough with the key wicket of Andrew Padbury finished with 1/12 from 9. 
Old Carey's Jacob de Paiva (centre) was named player of the match in the Grand Final Photo. Umpires Stephen Lennon (L) and Mark Price. © Chris Mirabella 2026
While the Mont Albert batters tried to dig deep, it was hard to score runs all day. Joshua Dahlsen (8 from 71 balls), Joel Guley (8 from 51 balls) showed plenty of fight, and Michael Minz (20*) and Adam Ahmed (11) came in and played some nice shots late, but the wickets kept falling with a 24 run 8th wicket partnership the highlight with the bat. However the game was long gone for the hosts and it was just a formality as Old Carey players lapped up the moment. Old Carey keeper Jakob Devine was exceptional with the gloves picking up three neat catches.
Mont Albert skipper Andrew Padbury was magnanimous in defeat, praising Old Carey for out-performing his team in all three of the cricket disciplines over the course of the match. The loss will almost certainly sit very heavily on the club over winter - it is their third consecutive Dunstan Shield Grand Final loss - all at home. Old Carey skipper Sam Morarty was almost apologetic in his victory speech, conceding that Mont Albert were the best team in the home and away season and the competition benchmark. He spoke of the admiration his team has for the involvement of the Mont Albert community in the club, as evidenced by the big crowd of supporters and players (past and present) at the game.
Until the Grand Final, Mont Albert had almost a flawless season - losing only one match, and overcoming their recent nemesis North Balwyn in a hard-fought semi-final win. Mont Albert thrashed Old Carey at home before Christmas in their only match up before the grand final.
However, the was no denying Old Carey’s win. They finished second on the ladder. They defeated the in-form East Doncaster in the semi-final to earn their spot in the final. With performances spread throughout the team typically flew below the radar, like they seem to always do. This is their third Dunstan Shield Premiership in five seasons - two of these were won away - which is an extraordinary performance. They are a benchmark for the competition.
