VSDCA 2018-19: James Pearson takes seven wickets on Brunswick debut

JAMES Pearson lived up to his reputation as one of the VSDCA’s most lethal fast bowlers with a seven-wicket haul on debut for Brunswick on Saturday.

WHAT a way to endear yourself to your new teammates.

Brunswick paceman James Pearson made an immediate impact for his new VSDCA club on Saturday, snaring 7-22 to give the Wicks the upper hand in their opening-round fixture against Ivanhoe.

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After two seasons which yielded 77 wickets for Box Hill, the 32-year-old crossed to A.G Gillon Oval with a reputation as one of sub-district’s most lethal quicks.

Pearson wasted little time opening his Brunswick account, removing Ivanhoe openers James Hopkins (9) and Abhishant Pursawalkam (4) cheaply.

Saints skipper Raza Rizwan (73) and no.4 batsman Kasun Adikari (51) controlled proceedings until just after tea, when Leigh Brennan (2-41) ended their profitable third-wicket stand.

Returning to the attack for a second burst, Pearson sensed an opening and ripped through Ivanhoe’s lower order.

James Pearson took seven wickets on debut for Brunswick on Saturday. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The pace spearhead dismissed four batsmen — Tom Foster, James Galloway, James O’Brien and Patrick O’Brien — without scoring as the Saints squandered a promising platform and were dismissed for 165.

“It was quite a tricky pitch to bowl on at the start,” Pearson said.

“I think they were 2-130 at lunch. They played pretty well.

“We got a little roll on after (Brennan) knocked over their skipper in the first over after tea. “It was quite a hard wicket to come in on, but once you got in, it was actually quite easy paced.

“I was trying to bowl stump-to-stump and got lucky with a few that snuck through.”

Six of Pearson’s seven scalps were bowled as Ivanhoe’s batsmen failed to deal with his devastating accuracy.

“Once we got the breakthrough (captain Liam Murphy) decided to give that a go and really go for the throat, which worked out,” Pearson said.

“It’s probably not going to work every week, but it’s a bit of a luxury to have where you have got that much pressure coming from both ends and blokes that can genuinely get wickets at both ends.”

Debutant Muhammad Shakeel went to stumps on day one at 30 not out and Brunswick will resume at 2-75 this weekend.

Shakeel shared a 60-run opening partnership with Karl Mayne (34), before Pearson (0) had a short stay as nightwatchman.

“Cricket is a great leveller,” he said.

“Just when you think you are going well, it turns around and bites you in the bum.”

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