Melbourne Uni pair’s incredible stories to first centuries

Two Melbourne University batsmen broke through for their maiden Premier Cricket centuries at the weekend but their journeys to get there couldn’t have been any more different.

What’s better than one maiden Victorian Premier Cricket century in a game?

How about three.

Melbourne University pair George Lavelle (134 runs off 182 balls) and Harrison Barnes (102 off 148) guided their side to a three-wicket win over Essendon on Saturday in a two-day game that featured four centuries

Essendon’s Aiden Salvado reached triple figures for the first time on day one along with fellow young gun Farzan Chowna who hit his second of the season.

But it as the Uni pair who stole the show as they shared a 200-run partnership after coming together at 4-40 when the home side looked in deep trouble.

And their journeys to get there arguably couldn’t have been any more different.

Lavelle is one of his side’s UK imports and arrived in the country after an English summer where he made Country Cricket half-centuries for Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Barnes has toiled away in Premier Cricket’s lower grades during his time with Frankston Peninsula and now University.

Before his innings on Saturday, he had scored just a combined 23 runs in six First XI innings including a duck in the previous game.

Lavelle was dismissed for a golden duck in the same game.

George Lavelle and Harrison Barnes hit their first Premier Cricket centuries.

Their coach, Dan Hutton, couldn’t have been prouder of how they responded.

“Once they settled, they knew batting was going to get easier the longer the day went on,” he said.

“This is Harrison’s third season with the club, he’s been such a hard worker during his time here, he really deserved this moment.

“We’ve been amazed with George since he arrived at the club, he’s obviously an outstanding talent and we’re very fortunate to have him.

“The way they took the game on after tea was wonderful to watch. The runs started to come quite quickly when we realised the position we were in.”

Despite chasing over 300 for victory, Hutton said the platform had been set by the bowlers on day one despite the twin centuries in Essendon’s innings.

Janak Prakash took three wickets while Doug Warren (before he jetted off for a Sheffield Shield debut) and Mark Stafford took one apiece.

“Our bowlers did an amazing job,” he said.

“The outfield is lightning quick so it’s ideal batting conditions.”

Melbourne University now sits 2-1 after four rounds after its opening game was washed out.

They’ll next face Camberwell Magpies.