MPCA 2019-20: Flinders selects 13-year-old Sam Gove while Baxter champion Chris Brittain hits ton
Sam Gove, 13, showed maturity beyond his years to make 21 on debut for Flinders in MPCA Provincial First XI.
South East
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Flinders picked a 13-year-old to play in its MPCA Provincial First XI side on Saturday — and he didn’t disappoint.
Pint-sized Sam Gove, who lives a few cricket pitches from the Flinders ground, batted at No 5 for the Sharks against Baxter, making a patient 21, including a boundary.
He shared a 30-run fourth wicket partnership with his skipper, former first-class player Matt Gale (15), but Flinders came up short, making 8-161 in reply to Baxter’s 6-230.
Flinders officials say Gove, who doesn’t turn 14 until next April, might be the youngest First XI player in the club’s 145-year history.
The youngster has come up through the Flinders’ juniors — he made a half-century in an Under 14s grand final last season — and has played for the South East Country Sharks.
The star of the day was Baxter champion Chris Brittain, who belted his ninth century for Baxter in four years.
He hit 7 fours and 7 sixes on his way to 104, punishing anything loose or short, and shared a 96-run opening stand with Dale Irving (53, with 5 fours and 2 sixes).
Baxter’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Yohan Maddege (2-19), Josh Mack (2-29) and Todd Quinn (2-32) doing well.
At Lloyd Park, Langwarrin opener Tom Hussey peeled off 82 to set up victory for the reigning premiers against Baden Powell.
Langy skipper Jake Prosser was also in cracking form, putting away 6 fours and 1 six on his way to 56 in a total of 9-196 off 40 overs. BP skipper Craig Entwistle snared 5-30.
In reply, Baden Powell crashed to 5-24 and never seriously challenged, struggling to 8-118. Rhys Elmi top scored with 29. For Langy, Andrew Smith (2-18), Leigh Paterson (2-21), Travis Campbell (2-15) and Mal Coutts (1-7) took wickets.
Mt Eliza sits on top of the ladder, unbeaten, after a rousing run-chase win over Mornington.
After Tom Baron (2-17) helped restrict Mornington to 7-168, Mt Eliza rushed to victory with almost 10 overs to spare, making 4-170 off 30.1 overs.
Mounties coach Tim Clarke led the charge with 56 at the top of the list, while skipper Justin Grant made 52 not out. Mounties opener Rashmika Opatha was dismissed “hit wicket’’ after falling onto his stumps while pulling a bouncer from Michael Heib.
Grant took a freakish one-handed catch at cover to dismiss Mornington’s Jack Spreckley (19).
Peninsula Old Boys performed with bat and ball to beat Sorrento.
Wade Pelzer (42), Tom La Brooy (38no) and Oscar Craig (30) helped the Pirates put up 6-166 and then Will Crowder (2-16) and Eivion Bowen (3-20) bowled them to victory, helping to dismiss Sorrento for 135. Corey Harris top scored for the Sharks with 35.
In Peninsula, Long Island opened its winning account, beating Moorooduc by 47 runs.
Batting first, the Islanders put up 159 after an even spread of contributors, including Pubudu Edirisinghe (28), Brad Bailey (25), Daniel Heyne (25) and Andrew Tweddle (15).
Long Island skipper Tom Boxell made a duck, caught and bowled by Tom Shayler.
In reply, Moorooduc was shot out for 112 in 35 overs. Ducs skipper Ben Williams cracked 47 at the top of the list and Paddy De Mel (28) and Michael Whincup (17no) chipped in late but they lacked support. Long Island’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Tweddle (2-19), Chris Hocking (2-15) and James Paxton (2-28) doing the early damage before Boxell (3-17) mopped up the tail.
A strong batting display set up Red Hill’s 25-run win over Pines.
Hillmen skipper Simon Dart made 43 off 61 balls as eight of the top nine reached double figures in a score of 9-189. Matthew Merifield made 35 to continue his good start to the season.
Pines pacer Patty Jackson snared 4-24 off eight overs, following his return of 5-5 last week.
In reply, Pines was given a fast start by opener Damien Lawrence (23) before skipper Harley Peace-Stirling (35) and Rhys Chalkley (31) took the score to 4-106.
But when both fell to Dart, followed by a couple of run outs, the Piners’ run chase lost momentum and expired in the 36th overs for 164.
Former Victorian player Jayde Herrick shone with bat and ball in Somerville’s thumping 134-run win over Pearcedale.
Herrick opened the batting and cracked 33 as the Eagles motored to 8-224 off their 40 overs. English import James Tierney, 18, top scored with 48 at No 5, his innings featuring 7 fours and 1 six. Opener Brenton Alp (33), skipper Brad McDonald (25) and Sean Parker (30) also impressed.
In reply, Pearcedale was never in the hunt after crashing to 4-23 and finished with 8-90 in 40 overs. Herrick bowled with pace and precision to return 2-9 off eight overs, while Russell Wilkes (2-16) and Luke Rowe (3-18) were also in control. Somerville batsman Leigh Lowry is yet to play this season but could be back next round.
An unconquered 90-run seventh wicket partnership between Matt Meagher (47no) and Aidan Lenehan (29no) set up Heatherhill’s 65-run win over Main Ridge.
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Opener Patrick Skelly (48) also fired as the Hills put up 6-166 off their 40.
Kieran Lenehan then starred with the ball, taking 4-20, as Heatherhill held Main Ridge to 9-101 in reply. William Noall top scored for the Cougars with 43.