Sammy Syan’s stunning start to Premier Cricket season

A rising Greenvale Kangaroos star, fresh off a dominant winter, has made a stunning start to his summer. He provides the reasons for his form and all the top performers from round 1 of the under-18 premier competition.

Sammy Syan enjoyed a strong start to the competition.

 

A winter spent rolling the arm over instead of sitting on the couch had Greenvale Kangaroos young gun primed for an incredible matchwinning performance in the opening round of the Victorian Premier Cricket under-18 competition.

Leg spinning all-rounder Sammy Syan lit up his side’s game against Northcote with a match winning performance.

He scored 54 runs off 56 balls at the top of the order before putting Northcote in a spin with 7-20 from 5.3 overs.

Syan had hoped to start his season on Saturday but Greenvale’s Second XI game was washed out.

“It was close to my best game, definitely one of my best games,” Syan said.

“It all just happened so quickly, I probably didn’t realise what happened until the game finished.

“I got an opportunity to prove myself and show what I can do as a genuine all-rounder, which I am. And I made sure I took it. I spent a lot of time training on my batting, bowling and fielding.”

Syan felt he always had the ability to show his talents with the bat and ball.

Instead of spending the winter months on the couch, he played in the Mid Year Cricket Association for Greenvale, playing in a premiership team.

Syan was man of the match in the final to go along with the competition’s MVP and batting awards.

The teenager scored 369 runs at an average of 61.50 and also took 16 wickets.

“Winter cricket did give me the platform to play how I should, how composed I should be, even with the bowling,” he said.

“I got my mojo back after having a tough season with the ball last season. I just lost the way I bowled. But I reset and came back, even better.

“I put in a lot of work in all aspects of myself. One being getting my bowling mojo back and doing what I can, even better than I used to.

“I also got the opportunity to open the batting and different areas of my games. I have mostly batted at three or four.

“In the future I would like to play T20s mainly but all formats along the way. But I see myself as an opener.”

Well spoken for a rising star, Syan credited his coaches, Ashley Cavigan and Barry Neivandt, as another reason for his strong start to the season.

But he’s also learnt an important lesson in recent months.

“I have the backing of my coaches to play the way I do,” he said.

“They gave me an opportunity to open the batting and take the game on. That’s not to hack at everything but play cricket, to give the team momentum.

“Last season was pretty tough mentally. One of the things I learned was if you’re not going to enjoy it there’s not much point doing it, and that’s why I’m focusing more on enjoying it this time.

“Yes, it’s still serious but it’s fine to have a bit of fun and get the job done. I play better when I’m having fun and enjoying it with my teammates.”

Viraaj Aulakh enjoyed a strong performance for Footscray.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

Carlton 4-199 defeated Essendon 7-186 by four wickets

Keir Lucas was the hero with the bat for the Blues, scoring 62 runs off 85 balls to guide his side across the line as Jack Campbell narrowly fell short of a half-century after being out on 49. Krit Darji hit a half-century for Essendon with Lucas Brasher and Vincent Bush taking two wickets apiece for Carlton.

Prahran 9-209 defeated Casey South Melbourne by 78 runs

A half-century from Jesse van Rooyen proved the difference between the two sides. He finished with 71 off 110 to put his side in a strong position. Jude Owen bowled well for the Swans with 3-28. Thomas Tsatas, Will Scott and Rex Macalister then two apiece for Prahran to settle the result.

Footscray 1-145 defeated Fitzroy Doncaster 144 by nine wickets

Aayan Nadeem and Viraaj Aulakh were the stars as Footscray got its campaign off to a perfect start. Aulakh took 5-29 in a special bowling performance before Nadeem led the way with the bat finishing on 80 not out. Lachlan Hay also impressed with 40 not out and three wickets.

Melbourne University 6-186 defeated Kingston Hawthorn 9-183 by three runs

Raph Cramb (49 off 88) top scored for Uni as they recorded a three-run win. Krish Kumar was the pick of the bowlers with 3-38.

Frankston Peninsula 5-233 defeated Dandenong by 47 runs

Billy Thomson enjoyed a fine performance with the bat, scoring an unbeaten half-century before Cody Irving took a five-for.

Note: The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.