Married At First Sight star’s love of cricket heats up with big win
MARRIED At First Sight star Cameron Merchant is still in love with cricket after producing a match winning performance for Manly in their season opener against St George on Saturday.
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MARRIED At First Sight star Cameron Merchant is still in love with cricket after producing a match winning performance for Manly in their season opener against St George on Saturday.
While he bowled a maiden over on the smash hit reality TV show, he got amongst the runs at Hurstville Oval on Saturday.
And his effort came just after the one-year anniversary of his television wedding to fiancé Jules Robinson on Married At First Sight.
Manly was in big trouble against St George at 5-110 after 30 overs, chasing 225.
Then Merchant and Joel Foster put on a magnificent 115 run partnership to seal the victory with the pair both finishing with 59 not out.
Merchant sealed the victory by smashing a four over the top of gully on the second last ball of play.
“It was great that I can still do that,” he laughed.“I’m 35 now and know my game inside out.
“And batting with Joel was phenomenal, he is certainly a talent.
“He was very calm and had a mature head on his shoulders and did what he had to do.”
Foster also made a big impact with the ball, finishing with the figures of 4-29.
Merchant said that while his life has changed since last season, cricket at Manly was in his DNA.
“I love everything about the club they have been amazing with the support they have shown me and the flexibility I have sometimes needed,” Merchant said.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t enjoy it and didn’t want to do well and help the club win and then help some of our amazing juniors we have coming through.”
Merchant still has a busy schedule involving Married At First Sight and goes on promotional tours overseas.
And he said it is his teammates who help keep him grounded through all the hype.
“I’m still the same ‘Nappa’ they have always known but sometimes just a few things happen and they just shake their heads or laugh at it,” Merchant said.
The victory was a very encouraging start for the club and for Phil Marks who has taken over the role of head coach from Tim Cruickshank this season.
“It was probably the best I have seen us play for a long time- from the bowling to the batting and in the field as well,” Marks said.
This weekend Manly play a two-day game against Mosman at Manly Oval.