Evie Stansby becomes first female to play for Mentone Grammar First XI

Fast-rising cricketer Evie Stansby made a little piece of sporting history for Mentone Grammar School on Saturday.

Coach Peter Buchanan with Evie Stansby.

When Mentone Grammar cricket coach Peter Buchanan filled out his team sheet on Saturday morning, a little bit of sporting history was made for the school.

He wrote E Stanbsy at No 3 in the order.

That was Evie Stansby and she had become the first female to be selected for the school’s First XI.

The 17-year-old Year 12 student was one of MG’s eight debutants in the match at Camberwell Grammar.

It was a tough day for Mentone Grammar.

Sent in a green wicket, it tumbled to 6-29 in the face of good opening bowling from Connor Laird (who finished with four wickets).

But the visitors showed some fight in the lower-order to reach 101.

Stansby went in at No 9 and with Will Robertson put on 25 for the eighth wicket. She made 3 off 29 balls.

Evie Stansby in the warm-up at Camberwell Grammar.

She also did some keeping in the Camberwell Grammar innings, sharing the gloves with captain Will Brown.

Camberwell Grammar won the match by four wickets, overcoming excellent fast bowling from Christian Howe (2-13 off 12 overs) and the left-arm spin of Charlie Costa (3-23 off 12.3).

Stansby plays women’s Premier Cricket for Dandenong and kept in the First XI last Sunday. She performed well with the bat in the Under 18 Cricket Victoria female series, scoring 193 runs at 64.3.

Former Menton Grammar director of cricket Everard Fenton presents Evie Fenton with her cap.

“Evie has deserved her selection,’’ Buchanan said before the toss.

“The first female cricketer to represent the Mentone firsts – that’s a great achievement.

“She’s picked herself. She’ll keep, she’ll bat down the order and we’re looking forward to it.’’

Stansby said it had been aim to play in the Firsts team.

“That first day in Year 7 when I went down to the boys cricket training … it’s something I’ve wanted to do since then,’’ she said.

“They’re a great group of boys and I’m excited that I get to play with them today. Hopefully it’s something that becomes a regular thing for other girls coming through in the future.’’

Stansby started her cricket at Beaumaris – with its inaugural girls team – and was an Under 12 Victorian representative. She has since played in the Youth Premier League for the South East Bayside Breakers.

Peter Buchanan fills out the team sheet.

There is another sporting side to her; she is also an outstanding hockey player. A defender, she’s in a national Under 18 squad.

“It’s something I really love,’’ she said of hockey. “Both sports seem to go well together. I’ve been lucky that hockey’s in the winter and cricket’s in the summer so I’ve never had to make a decision about one or the other, which is good because I love them so much.’’