Premier Cricket: Jarvis Harvey, 16, makes his debut for Dandenong

Wonthaggi’s Jarvis Harvey joined James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Cameron White in having a Premier Cricket debut for the Panthers at the age of 16.

Jarvis Harvey with Dandenong and Victorian cricket great Brendan McArdle.

More 30 years after Ian Harvey travelled from Wonthaggi to debut for Dandenong’s antecedent, Waverley, his nephew Jarvis took the same path for his introduction to Victorian Premier Cricket.

The right-arm fast bowler also took the first over of the match in the Panthers’ Round 14 encounter with Fitzroy-Doncaster at Shepley Oval on Saturday.

In doing so he joined such notable cricketers as James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Cameron White in making his Premier Cricket entrance for the Panthers at the age of 16.

Wonthaggi couple Craig and Shelley Harvey beamed with parental pride as the legendary Brendan McArdle presented their son with his cap.

As Dandenong’s coach and captain, McArdle had been instrumental in Ian Harvey’s rise, which went all the way to international cricket.

He’s now in the UK, in coaching ranks in County cricket, but he was chuffed to learn of Jarvis’s selection.

At the cap presentation, McArdle said the “latest’’ Harvey “means a lot to our club and means a lot to me’’.

“My mind goes back to many years ago when we had your uncle playing here,’’ he said. “He had a good career here … I hope you have as much fun in the game of cricket as what he’s had, and as much success as you want.

“Your uncle was a young genius in many ways. He ended up playing in the firsts at 15 or 16 as a keeper. We took the gloves off him and he became an all-rounder.’’

Craig Harvey also played a few matches for Dandenong, swinging the bat hard and, on a couple of occasions handsomely, in the Third XI.

He took an anxious drag on a cigarette as his son opened the bowling from the Dandenong Creek end after the Lions chose to bat.

In a four-over opening spell that cost him 19 runs, Jarvis raised some decent pace and was prepared to pitch the white ball up.

He returned to jag his first wicket, Nick Fletcher caught by Cameron Forsyth near backward point.

Lions leader Ejaaz Alavi hit 70 and took four wickets against Dandenong.

Jarvis – who linked with Dandenong last season in the Under 16 Premier series and has played in the Under 17 Dowling Shield and Second XI this season – finished with 1-57 off his 10 overs.

The visitors put up 7-233, largely through opener Jack Rudd (85) and captain Ejaaz Alavi (70).

The Panthers were convinced they had Rudd caught behind early in his innings, but first-game umpire Clare Haysom could see no bat involved.

The bowler, Braden Taeuber, was aghast.

Rudd was eyeing his second century of the season when he fell to leggie Gehan Seneviratne, his innings lifted by 3 sixes and 7 fours.

Alavi hit 2 sixes and 3 fours in his 90-ball knock.

Seneviratne had another good outing for the Panthers with 3-43 off his 10 overs, and Taeuber (1-33) and Josh Sawrey (0-36 off 10) bowled better than their figures indicated.

Dandenong was 1-70 in the run chase, but left-arm spinner Alavi interrupted its progress with a superb spell of 4-25 off 10 overs, removing Brett Forsyth (26), Josh Slater (50, Sam Newell (34) and Max Marinic (1).

The Panthers wound up with 190 and another defeat, but they could take heart from the performance of second-gamer Angus Newman, who was the last man out for 50.

It came off 58 balls and included 2 fours and twos.

Newman, the younger brother of Ed, had made his debut last week against Northcote, but wasn’t required to bat.