In a match that had a little bit of everything, it was Ellinbank who completed a run-chase 28 years in the making to claim a division one premiership.
Losing the toss and bowling, the Eagles wouldn't have minded their circumstances given their unbelievable chasing record- however, they were immediately put on the back foot by Hallora's electric top-order.
Damon Healy (33) got his side off to a ferocious start once again, as he and Brett Williams combined for a whirlwind 70-run opening stand to set an immediate tone. Healy was dismissed by Kim Drew (2-23) before he could perform yet another premiership-winning innings, before Drew produced a magical moment to castle danger-man Fraser Duncan (6) to swing the game back in their favour.
Williams (55) was in amazing touch at the other end and seemed destined to post a mammoth score as he and Cam McPhan pushed the score to triple figures - but Ellinbank's class fielding kept them in the match once again, as Williams was run-out by the nifty Matt Farthing.
McPhan continued his magical form at the other end, however Hallora's seldom used lower-order showed signs of rust - Liam Serong (11), Aidan Phillips (4) and Craig Byrnes (0) all struggled to get going as Ellinbank crept back in the game.
Tom Robertson (2-18) and semi-final hero Jeremy Gray (2-30) underlined the Eagles depth as they got the job done with the old ball, but a final push from McPhan (55*) and Natsai M'Shangwe (21) gave Hallora the edge with a score of 7-200. On a batting friendly Hallora ground, could Ellinbank prove lightning strikes twice with another clutch chase?
That question seemed like it had a clear answer in the early stages of Ellinbank's innings- as an enormous, panic-inducing collapse led Hallora to believe they had one hand on the cup. Sean Masterson (16), Kim Drew (13), Matt Farthing (6) and Troy Ferguson (1) all fell early, as Liam Serong (2-26) continued his sensational finals series to leave Ellinbank wilting at 4-45.
Ellinbank needed a hero, and fast - with Nick Fairbank at the crease anything was possible, but a partner was required. He and Amal Mahathelge decided the time was now and went for glory- taking the Hallora attack to the cleaners early in the partnership to set the tone for the rest of the day.
The pair was simply unstoppable - completely turning the game on its head, as Hallora's dominant spin was suddenly cut-down by a pair destined to take Ellinbank to the promised land. Mahathelge (54) played his greatest knock in blue and gold, striking seven boundaries - but most importantly, contributing to a partnership of 132 that may go down as WDCA's greatest in the limited overs format. Fairbank continued his bludgeoning without his partner but fell just short of the magical number of 201- his innings of 78 cementing his position as the best batsmen in the league, the skipper playing a true captain's knock as Natsai M'Shangwe (2-43) breathed faint life into Hallora.
With 16 runs still to get, a few nerves borne from 28 years of heartbreak still fluttered amongst the Ellinbank faithful- but this was their year of destiny, and Curtis Howell (13*) and Daniel Pandolfo (6*) made sure of that, as Howell's loft over mid-on brought the drought to an end and gave his side a moment they'll never forget.