Former NSW batter Blake Macdonald crunched his maiden Victorian Premier Cricket ton on Saturday
Former NSW batter Blake Macdonald made his first impression on Victorian Premier Cricket on Saturday with a classy century and he’s vowed to “put in the work” required to get back on state books.
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NSW export Blake MacDonald says he’s “in it for the long haul” and ready to “put in the work” to secure a second chance in Victoria.
Macdonald, who hit 1266 grade runs for St George including a competition record five tons in 2023-24, made his first mark on Victorian Premier Cricket on Saturday.
Macdonald hit nine fours and five towering sixes on his way to 139 off 172 balls.
He, along with Victoria-listed batter Jonathan Merlo (123), powered St Kilda to victory over Frankston Peninsula (6-367).
Macdonald and Merlo took the Saints from 1-56 to 2-273 in a partnership that held the Heat from bowling successive maidens.
Macdonald came to Victoria in hope of getting back into first-class cricket after being squeezed off the NSW list at the end of last summer.
But Macdonald is keeping his quest for a Victorian cap simple: score runs, win games for St Kilda.
“There’s no real update or expectation other than I’ve just got to keep putting the best case forward in scoring runs and winning games for St Kilda,” Macdonald said.
“Then hopefully I am putting myself in the frame for Second XI games and then I will try keep an open line of communication to see if there’s anything I can work on to hopefully be playing for Victoria at some point.
“I feel like I am here for the long haul, I am ready to put in the work and hopefully earn a spot at some point.”
Saturday was Macdonald’s first signature innings in Victoria.
He said he took the “circumspect” approach prior to lunch before he and Merlo raised the tempo of the game after it.
“After lunch it was really about putting a bit of pressure back on the bowling while minimising the risk as much as we could,” he said.
“When you’re lucky enough to get into a good partnership like that it sort of just flows and we were both batting nicely, I don’t know, you stop thinking and it flows.
“It’s nice when you’ve got a partner up the other end doing it easy as well, it takes the pressure off and you can play quite freely.”
Macdonald has taken fondly to his new threads, saying he enjoyed the big win as much he did the time in the middle.
“It was nice to get the first one (ton) of the season, spend time in the middle and put on a nice partnership with Jon,” he said.
“The first for St Kilda and to do it in a big run chase like that, it’s always nice to contribute in a big win.
“Obviously a hundred is great but spending time in the middle and getting a bit of confidence is also great.
“When it contributes to winning a game, it’s pleasing to sit back at the end of the day and have a drink in the sheds with your mates, I think that’s the best part of cricket.”
St Kilda takes on Melbourne this weekend in one of the Demons’ showcase matches at the MCG.
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