Darcy Munro grabs five wickets on debut for Melbourne in Victorian Premier Cricket

Melbourne introduced three more talented young cricketers to its First XIs when the 2021-22 Premier Cricket season started.

What a dreamy start to Victorian Premier Cricket for Darcy Munro.

The 18-year-old fast bowler captured 5-14 off 8.5 overs on Saturday to help Melbourne defeat a doughty Greenvale Kangaroos at the Albert Ground.

Munro is one of six Demons in the extended national squad for the Youth World Cup in the West Indies early next year.

Melbourne was protecting 6-217 and had its bothers when the Kangaroos’ response reached 0-137 through openers Josh Trembearth (66) and Jack Potticary (56).

Fergus O’Neil grabbed three quick wickets and then Munro got involved.

The Kangas collapsed to be all out for 175.

“They were on top, and I was very worried about how it was going,’’ Dees coach Ben Vague said.

“They had us on the ropes.

“Darcy came on and bowled his first five overs and they only went for seven runs. He bowled at the stumps. It was quite a two-paced wicket, hard to score on.

“Fergus came back, picked up the openers and then Darcy went bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Five wickets.’’

He said Munro – who had made his First XI debut at Mont Albert at the age of 14 ahead of his inclusion in state under-age squads – was a “pure athlete’’.

Amy Yates with Zoe Samuel.

The Demons had intended to pick him last season but he picked up a side injury.

A number of other clubs approached him in the off-season, Vague said, but he stuck with Melbourne and did an “awesome pre-season’’.

“Hardly missed a session and put in every session. The results from the weekend weren’t by chance. The kid put the work in,’’ Vague said.

“The upside for him is massive. Like everyone he’s coming off a three or four-week pre-season. He’s just building into his season. Ian Hewitt is our bowling coach and he’ll be doing a lot of work with Darcy and he’ll get more good results.’’

New Melbourne skipper Blake Thomson crafted 85 off 121 balls and O’Neill contributed a vital 41 off 62 ahead of his match-turning 4-36 off nine overs.

He is rapidly becoming one of the most valuable players in the competition.

In the Second XI, 16-year-old Harry De Mattia opened his season with an outstanding hand of 112 not out, off 123 balls and with 10 fours and 4 sixes.

De Mattia, who captained Ormond to the John Craig Shield title last season, shared a 162-run opening partnership with Charles Lill, who was run out for 67.

The Demons hit 1-191 in reply to 9-187.

Melbourne fielded a 13-year-old in the Fourth XI, James Rosham, and the off-spinner took 3-31 off nine overs.

The debuts kept coming on Sunday when Zoe Samuel and Lucy Page played for the women’s First XI.

And they combined for the wicket against Ringwood, caught Page, bowled Samuel.

With Amy Vine cracking 82 not out, Melbourne hit 4-198 in reply to 189. Samuel collected 3-27 off her eight overs to go with her hand of 24 not out.