Sub-District cricket: Century for Rummans, hat-trick for Bird in final round
Caulfield tuned up for the VSDCA finals with a strong victory over Ormond, with veteran Graeme Rummans and youngster Jayden Banks showing the way.
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After making a century six weeks ago Graeme Rummans said he was going to enjoy it “because it might be the last one’’.
Not quite.
Caulfield’s great left-hander added another ton to his long list as the Fielders defeated Ormond in the final round of the VSDCA north-south section on Saturday.
It was his third century of the season and lifted the former NSW and Victorian batsman’s run tally to 708 at 78.7, six shy of competition leader Ricky Damiano.
Rummans scored 125 not out, batting through the innings after Caulfield won the toss.
His innings included 9 fours and 3 sixes, and led the Fielders to 5-198 at EE Gunn Reserve.
Ormond was 0-54 in the reply but fell for 161.
It meant the Monders dropped from third to sixth, missing a home final. They’ll now meet minor premier Oakleigh in next weekend’s quarterfinals.
Caulfield finished second and will host Moorabbin, which has qualified for the finals for the first time in 26 years. Rummans’s wicket will be the one the Binners covet as they try to pull off an upset.
Ormond captain James Wild said Rummans was the difference between the teams.
Asked if he would be making centuries at the age of 43, Wild shot back: “I’m not even sure I’ll be playing! I won’t be as fit as a fiddle like ‘Rummo’ is.
“Unbelievable. Quality batsman. Quality player.
“He assessed the wicket really quickly. It was difficult against the new ball. He let the ball go, gritted through, used soft hands. And then once he got in he really started to accelerate and show his class. It was really hard to defend against … he was able to hit balls where he wanted to in the end.
“It was a pretty even contest apart from ‘Rummo’. He got 125 out of 198.’’
Wild said the Monders started the chase well “but the scoreboard pressure got to us in the end’’.
MORE SUBBIES
Ricky Damiano breaks run record but Tonners miss Subbies finals
Moorabbin in finals for the first time in 26 years
Karl Carver a key man for Binners
Caulfield colt Jayden Banks took the last four wickets of the innings to finish with 4-18 off 7.3 overs.
Fielders coach Adrian Jones said the club was pleased with the 18-year-old right-arm paceman’s progress this season.
“Been fantastic. I didn’t know too much about him – he’s had some terrible injuries I understand, a shoulder and knee and he missed a lot of cricket – but he’s big and strong and he runs in hard and tries to bowl fast,’’ he said of the son of Caulfield stalwart Tristan.
“He can bat a little bit as well. He’s going to be a good all-round prospect for the club and I think he has aspirations to go further, which is another good sign.’’
As for Rummans, Jones said of his former St Kilda teammate: “He’s not bad, is he?
“It wasn’t a great pitch to bat on, particularly early. It was very inconsistent with the bounce – some were rocketing over the top of the keeper and some were running along the ground – and as the ball softened up the bounce became a bit truer but it came two-paced.
“He defended really well. But it’s probably as free-flowing an innings as I’ve seen from him in a long time.’’
Ormond fast bowler Rodney Bird provided another highlight of the match when he took his second hat-trick in Subbies.
He bowled his first two victims and made it three from three when he nabbed Dale Denny LBW with a knee-high full toss.
Wild said left-armer Bird was the “best finisher’’ he had played with.
He captured 4-20 off nine overs, taking his season’s tally of 25 wickets.