Subbies cricket: Graeme Rummans ton sets up Caulfield victory

The former St Kilda champion and first-class batsman hit his fifth century for the club as it got its season rolling.

At last some fine weather. At last a win for Caulfield.

As highlighted by new coach Adrian Jones, it was a quirky fact that the Fielders went into Saturday’s round without any points in any of the four grades of Sub-District cricket.

Put that down more to washouts than poor form. Between them Caulfield teams had completed only five matches.

But the sun was out at Ivanhoe Park on Saturday and so was the best of Graeme Rummans.

The great left-hander hit his fifth century for Caulfield as it claimed a 72-run win in the one-day affair.

Rummans hit 110 off 101 balls, with 11 fours and 2 sixes, dominating the Fielders’ innings of 9-232.

Topping off his day, he chipped in with 2-8 off 1.5 overs as Ivanhoe was dismissed for 160, of which Kasun Adikari made 70.

New Caulfield coach and former St Kilda fast bowler and coach Jones saw Rummans make a lot of runs for the Saints (he hit 20 centuries in Victorian Premier Cricket).

“He hasn’t changed anything,’’ he said.

“He defends well, he tries to bat for as long as he can, and if the bowler is a little bit off he pounces on it.

“He keeps it remarkably simple, and obviously he’s remarkably effective.’’

Graeme Rummans topped off his day with two cheeky wickets.

On Saturday night Jones asked Rummans about his innings, and the first thing he mentioned was his partnerships.

“He’s always been a team-oriented player,’’ Jones noted.

Rummans gave a hot chance early in his innings — the ball burst through the fielder’s hands at cover and went for four.

But he said he was pleased with his knock.

To the suggestion he never got sick of making centuries, Rummans replied: “You never know when it’s going to be the last!’’

The Fielders had two First XI debutants in bowling all-rounder Jayden Banks, 17, and wicketkeeper Ben Britbart Ellazam, 18.

And they had three wins in the four grades.

“We had some social media vitriol we had to put to bed,’’ Jones said in reference to a post about Caulfield’s lack of success early in the season. “It was blown up and plastered all over the changerooms.’’

Elsternwick put up a competitive 8-175 after batting first against Moorabbin at the Moorleigh Community Village Reserve.

But the Binners swept past their target in 34 overs, reaching 3-178 as overseas player Vishva Wijeratne blitzed 74 and No 3 Manav Shah 42.

Brothers Patrick (48 from the opening slot) and Luke Gorman (43 from No 5) contributed the bulk of Elsty’s runs.