MPCA: Sam Field makes Flinders debut at 12

A Flinders junior has become one of the youngest First XI players in MPCA history, while another young gun stole the show with a brilliant century.

Smile and have fun.

With these words, young Sam Field was presented with his Flinders First XI cap from his dad, club great Dwayne Field on Saturday.

Dwayne’s emotional speech preceded an historic moment in Flinders’ 148-year history.

It’s believed Sam, at 12 years and nine months, is Flinders’ youngest First XI player since the club was formed in 1874.

“Today’s a really proud day for our family,” Dwayne Field said as he addressed the side in the Flinders change rooms before the MPCA Peninsula game against Mornington.

“Sammy’s passion for the game…since he could walk he just wanted to play cricket.

“The greatest thing was, you ask Sammy when he was six who he wanted to play for and it wasn’t Australia, it was Flinders.

“Today he gets to do that which is really good.”

Dwayne finished by asking Sam to do three things in his first game.

“Just give a hundred percent, play to your strengths and do what I always say to you when you play cricket — smile and have fun. Good luck.”

Sammy performed well; he came in late and made 2 not out to help Flinders put up 7-202 and then took 0-35 off seven overs with his off spinners.

Mornington's Zac Garnet. Picture: Alan Dillon

But it was a Mornington young gun who stole the show, Zac Garnet blazing 109 not out to steer the Bulldogs, 4-204, to victory in the 37th over.

Garnet put away 15 boundaries and a six as he notched up his second First XI century for Mornington, and fifth overall.

Earlier, Flinders 15-year-old Sam Gove top scored for the Sharks with 77 (11 fours) to follow up his maiden century (107) last week.

Gove, who also plays Under 16s, has been in stunning form this season, plundering 704 runs, at 50.29, in all Flinders games.

Jake Harrington bowling for Seaford Tigers. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Meanwhile, Seaford Tigers coach Jake Harrington captured a hat-trick in his side’s gripping win over Rosebud.

He achieved it with the last three balls of the Rosebud innings, all caught.

The last wicket was a diving forward catch at long-on by Luke Chevalier.

Rosebud made 9-174 and in reply the Tigers achieved victory with a ball to spare, making 7-175, with opener Luke Kranzbuhler making 62, with 2 sixes and 3 fours.

It was a day for hat-tricks at the Seaford Tigers, with James Cameron also taking a ‘hat’ in the seconds. His three wickets were bowled, lbw and bowled in the third over.