Geelong off to perfect start in Premier Cricket as Lachie Field hits century, Josh Larkin produces masterclass

A fringe batter has announced himself with a stunning hundred while Geelong’s captain produced an all-round masterclass. And two more fresh faces impressed.

Lachie Field. Picture: Alan Barber

A maiden first grade century from batter Lachie Field and all-round dominance from Geelong captain Josh Larkin has got the Cats off to the perfect start to the Premier Cricket season in a washed out opening round.

Geelong was one of just two sides to record wins across the state with a commanding 145-run victory over Greenvale away from home in their one-day clash.

The Cats got off to a blistering start as playing coach Eamonn Vines clubbed seven boundaries from his 13-ball 30 but it was Larkin and Field’s 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket that was telling.

The two batters worked the ball around nicely in inclement conditions, with Field only hitting six boundaries in his 105 from 126 balls while Larkin recorded just two in his 63 (92).

On 99, Field blocked a ball just about back to the bowler and nervously charged for the other end, but he was too quick for the bowler as he saluted his first Premier Cricket century.

Field has been on the fringes of the ones for the past four seasons but this knock will surely cement his spot in first grade.

But a summer over in London with his partner, Geelong first grade women’s cricketer Meikah King, has seen him return even stronger.

Vines said his century was reward for effort for the promising batter.

“I think that 100 comes off a number of years of hard work and his own talent,” Vines said.

“He is 23 years old so he is at, I think, that perfect age in Premier Cricket where he has established himself with a hundred that he can have a really strong career with Geelong.

“The end of last season he finished really strongly in the ones and he was just batting really, really well.

“For a number of years you could see the talent that he had but he had a real awareness of his game and could impact different scenarios and win games either by being attacking or rotating the strike.

“He went away to the UK in the off-season and I think that was good for him to play a bit more cricket. He was really good over there and then he got back and he was straight into training, hasn’t missed a beat, and then goes out there – 3/50, we were in a sticky situation – and just played it really well.”

In just his third game, all-rounder Arjun Sehrawat provided some quick runs alongside Field at the end of the innings, making 40 from 21 deliveries to get Geelong to a strong total of 278, before taking 2/30 with the ball.

Greenvale never looked like making the total despite an unbeaten 65 from captain Justin Galeotti, with Larkin capping his batting efforts by cleaning up the tail.

Larkin claimed the last four wickets for just two runs — three of those clean bowled — as Greenvale were skittled for 133.

He also led really well with our group so it is good when your captain leads from the front from round one - sets a platform with the bat, finishes off with the ball, gets us a solid win. He was outstanding,” Vines said.

“We were 3/50 in a bit of trouble and his innings along with Lachie Field was fantastic.”

Vines also lauded the contributions of tearaway Kieren Helwig (3/35) and Sehrawat.

“There is three guys – Lachie, Arjun and Kieran – who haven’t played consistent first cricket that have allowed us to get a win,” Vines said.

“Kieran Helwig played his first game in the ones in two seasons. He has had a massive off-season, he is a fast bowler and he just bowled quick and tore through Greenvale at the start.

“It was just impressive to have someone with really good pace putting pressure on the opposition and we haven’t had that for a long time, it was really fantastic.

The win gives Geelong valuable points on the rest of the competition given Casey South Melbourne’s tight win over Frankston Peninsula was the only other completed game

Originally published as Geelong off to perfect start in Premier Cricket as Lachie Field hits century, Josh Larkin produces masterclass