South East Cricket Association: 400th game for Bentleigh Uniting’s Chris Manakis

Bentleigh Uniting legend Chris Manakis can add another accolade to his many achievements in local cricket.

Chris Manakis ahead of his 400th game for Bentleigh Uniting.

He’s done everything at Bentleigh Uniting.

Scored 11,580 runs in senior teams.

Struck 14 centuries, with a highest score of 225 not out.

Won batting and bowling averages, and club champion awards too.

Played in Longmuir Shield premierships.

Served as senior coach and captain, and on the committee.

Coached junior teams.

Earned a life membership.

And yet another accolade came to Chris Manakis on Saturday when he played his 400th senior match for Uniting (he had his 400th club game in 2018).

The milestone came at Bailey Reserve against Southside East Caulfield and brought a win, with the Lions scoring 6-210 and bowling out their opponents for 157.

With captain Cadel Duke punching out 114, Manakis wasn’t required to do much; he batted for four overs and made 10.

Chris Manakis with son Ben and daughter Mia.

He was just happy to mark the match with a Bentleigh Uniting win.

Interviewed before it, Manakis went reeling in the years, to the time he started with the club at the age of 12.

“I think it was 1983, through a guy called Paul Morgan, who is actually down here today to wish me well. He got me to the juniors and most of us from that time are still friends,’’ he said.

“Now we all play golf – except for some bloke still playing cricket. That’s me.’’

Manakis entered senior ranks at the age of 16 and a year later featured in a First XI flag.

Often playing alongside his brother Peter, he went on to become one of the club’s greatest players.

There were three Longmuir Shield flags; in the first of them, he made a century.

“In that period in the early to late 1990s, we probably should have won four or five premierships,’’ Manakis said.

“We missed out on a few unfortunately. That’s cricket.’’

Chris Manakis batting in Longmuir Shield.

Those who saw Manakis in his best years have little doubt he should have had a dash at Premier Cricket.

“I always loved it around our club and just didn’t leave,’’ he responded.

“Bentleigh Uniting is like a second home.’’

While time has dulled his reflexes, it hasn’t staked a claim on his love of the game.

That’s why he’s still playing at the age of 50, staying fit by running and swimming.

“I operate a business with my brother, and cricket helps you ease the mental stress of having a business with 25 guys,’’ he said.

How is he hitting them?

“OK. Up and down. Struggled early this season but I’ve made some fifties … there are about 160 runs in the bank from six hits so far,’’ Manakis said.

He said he “loved’’ making runs – and that was apparent in the grand final last season when Uniting was struggling against its great rival East Sandringham.

East Sandy ribbed Manakis, calling him a jockey and an old man; he dug in to make a matchwinning 77 not out and add to his premiership tally.

Chris and Peter Manakis.

Duke had contacted Leader to say he had been given the “honour’’ of captaining Uniting in the milestone match.

He called him a “legend of our club and a legend of the competition’’.

The Manakis name will carry on at Uniting.

Peter’s boys Liam and Ethan are playing, and Chris’s son Ben is doing Blasters at Bentleigh.

While his many friends at Bentleigh Uniting were thrilled to see Manakis reach 400 senior games, his wife, Marisa, was less impressed.

“She still doesn’t understand what all the fuss is when you do something 400 times!’’ Manakis said.