Premier Cricket: Essendon’s Lachie Busk, Musa Hussain upset Aaron Finch and Geelong
An Essendon young gun and fast bowler with no First XI experience spoiled Aaron Finch’s homecoming at Geelong with stunning displays. Here’s how they earned their opportunity.
North West
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It was the Essendon big guns on Saturday, followed by the young guns on Tuesday.
Asanka Gurusinha’s side got their Victorian Super Slam campaign off to the perfect start against Geelong, crashing the homecoming of former Australian captain Aaron Finch.
And the four-run victory at Geelong Cricket Ground was built on the back of two young up and coming bowlers.
It came just days after Essendon proved too good for Kingston Hawthorn in Premier Cricket with James Seymour making his second century of the season.
Lachie Busk, who has played the one-day season in the club’s Second XI, claimed the prize wicket of Finch before his second scalp closed the door on Geelong’s chances.
But it was three wickets in one over from Musa Hussain, on his way to 4-18, which sent the visitors on their way to victory.
“I wanted to build a more athletic and younger team for the shorter format,” Gurusinha said.
“’Busky’ has been bowling very well in the 2s and it’s these sort of performances which put pressure on the First XI regulars which is what we want. I want my job to be harder as coach.
“Since Musa had a bad day against Camberwell, he’s bounced back really strong to be our main bowler. Even when he’s not taking a handful of wickets, he’s bowling his 10 overs and usually going for under 30 runs.
“We had James Seymour, Isaac Willett and Tom O’Donnell all out of our side on Tuesday and this was a great opportunity to show off the depth of the club.”
Essendon was only able to post 8-107 from its 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat as Liam Molloy top scored with a patient 29 runs from 38 balls.
Gurusinha believes the efforts of his side’s at training proved critical in their bowling effort.
“The way we fought back with a smaller total on the board was good to see,” he said.
“I think our training plans and preparations have us on the right path.”
BIG SCORES ACROSS THE SUPER SLAM
There was a display of batting pyrotechnics at Camberwell, with 401 runs scored from 40 overs between Melbourne and the Magpies.
Former Bendigo United batter Zane Keighran blasted 67 off 44 balls to set up Melbourne’s 11-run win.
Keighran paraded his power with 5 fours and 3 sixes, while sharing a 99-run fourth wicket partnership with Glamorgan County all-rounder Joe Cooke (51 off 31, with 1 four and 4 sixes) as the Demons racked up 5-206 off their allotted 20 overs.
Demons No. 6 Charles Lill smashed 3 fours and 3 sixes in a sizzling innings of 42 not out off 18 balls.
Cooke is playing with Kew in Subbies this season but jumped at the chance to slot into Melbourne’s side for the Super Slam.
In reply, Camberwell Magpies swashbuckler Chris Thewlis crunched 49 off 24 (4 fours, 4 sixes) at the top of the list and James Wiseman hit 47no off 34 as the home side made a very respectable 5-195. Demons paceman Glenn Hannah took 3-31.
It was a one-run thriller at Casey Fields, as Casey-South Melbourne edged out Richmond.
The home side was all out for 128 as Sam Mills put on a phenomenal bowling display with 3-14 from four overs as Michael De Iacovo top scored with 42.
Despite having five wickets in hand, Richmond felt just short as Shobit Singh reached a half-century.
The big hits came fast and furiously at Mervyn Hughes Oval where Carlton champion Evan Gulbis and young gun Connor Rutland blitzed a 158-run opening partnership in the Blues’ win over Footscray.
Gulbis made 82 off 49 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) and Rutland 70 off 52 (6 fours, 2 sixes) to fire Carlton to 3-184.
In reply, Footscray slumped to 3-15 and was dismissed for 129 in the last over. Blues bowler Kavisan Thavarajah took 3-12 off 3.1 overs.
Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne made 72 off 47 balls (10 fours, 1 six) in a cameo for Dandenong in its win over Kingston Hawthorn.
Ben Allison (55 off 35) and Matt Wilson (31no off 14 balls, with 2 fours and 2 sixes) also impressed for the Panthers.
After banking its first win of the season on Saturday, Frankston Peninsula maintained its momentum with a decisive victory over Ringwood.
Brodie Symons (45 off 43 balls) and skipper James Nanopoulos (33 off 23) top scored in the Heat’s 6-124.
In reply, Ringwood lost wickets regularly to be dismissed for 92. Frankston’s Liam Walsh was the destroyer, taking 4-17 off 4 overs.
At University Main Oval, Melbourne University was forced to dig deep as it held on for a 10-run victory against the Greenvale Kangaroos.
Jack Nightingale powered his side to 4-185 from its 20 overs with a dominant 89 from 62 deliveries.
Greenvale threatened to take maximum points but ended up falling short as Doug Warren finished with 3-31.
Prahran got its campaign off to a perfect start against Northcote after a half-century from opener Ethan Brookes who hit 50 from 40 balls in the run chase.
Northcote reached 4-144 in the game’s first innings.
St Kilda was able to hold on in a thriller against Fitzroy-Doncaster taking away maximum points by just four runs.
Tom Russ top scored for the winners with his first half-century in any format as St Kilda posted 7-153 from its 20 overs.
Despite an unbeaten 50 from Zach Macciocca, the Lions were able to close out the result.
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