Aaron Shellie celebrates impending arrival with match-winning ton for Coburg
On red alert ahead for the birth of his second child, Aaron Shellie scored a match-winning century for Coburg as a COVID scare added more drama.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A drought-breaking century, an impending birth and COVID close call, it was high drama at Coburg City Oval on Saturday.
Coburg captain-coach Aaron Shellie scored his first ton since 2018-19 and will welcome his second child in the coming days after being on high alert for a call from wife, Sarah.
Thankfully, the newest Shellie held on and dad celebrated his milestone with a “rock the baby” as the Lions beat VSDCA rival Mt Waverley by 61 runs.
Shellie was finally dismissed for 110 from 107 balls, his first hundred since belting 130 for Essendon against Richmond and first since returning to the Lions from Premier Cricket.
“Sarah had all the boys’ numbers in case the baby came and I was in the middle,” he said.
“Coming back to Subbies cricket, it’s a completely different game.
“I had a chat to a couple of (Mt Waverley) boys after the game, who’ve played Premier Cricket as well, and they were saying the same thing – it takes a couple of years to get into the groove.
“Hopefully, that’s the first and there’s plenty more to come.”
The game almost didn’t go ahead due to a COVID scare at the club.
A text from the Department of Health, confirming a negative test, arriving minutes before a decision to call it off had to be made.
After Coburg was dismissed for just 76 last week, Shellie and boom recruit Aaron Ayre put on a 135-run opening partnership to give their team the perfect start.
Out for just seven on debut, Ayre scored 69 and kept Shellie focused.
“He’s not going to miss out too many games,” Shellie said of his opening partner.
“He keeps me a bit sane.
“I’m a bit of hothead, if I get going I like to keep going, and he calms me down.
“He knows how to talk to me in those situations and he’s a pretty quick scorer as well, so it’s not just from one end.
“We started a little bit slow but we believe we can catch up later, Aaron can score 360 (degrees) around the ground.”
Late hitting from Abhiram Paleru (32 off 24) saw Coburg post 8-272 from its 45 overs.
Like his opening batsmen, Lions paceman Jack Sheppard made a perfect start, knocking over Mt Waverley’s Michael Millier and Akshat Puri in quick succession to have the visitors 2-19.
Ayre then backed up his performance with the bat by bowling Daniel Broadbent and running out Kangaroos skipper Michael Sheedy.
Sheppard would finish with 3-24, while Ayre picked up 2-48.
“Jack was massive, it went a long way to us winning the game,” Shellie said.
“It’s something we’ve struggled with over the last couple of years, getting early wickets with the new rock.
“Shepp really works hard, he works his arse off and stays (at training) until dark.
“Who knew (about Aaron), he’s been in my ear all pre-season.
“I went back and watched the live feed to see if he actually turned a couple and he did, he turned a few, but he got a bit hungry towards the end and was flighting them up so I’ll have to get into him.”
Shellie was also pleased with debutant Blake Karvelis.
“Our first-gamer Blake was absolutely sensational for a young leg-spinner,” said.
“To come in and bowl in the middle overs and the back end when guys were going late and hold his nerve, I think he went for under sixes, he bowled unbelievably well for a first-gamer.”
Paul Evans (69) and Kurt Benjamin (53) threatened with a 71-run partnership before Jordan Ashby trapped Benjamin lbw and Shellie ran out Evans.
After a nightmare start to the season, Shellie hopes Saturday’s performance is more reflective of Coburg’s potential.
SECA: BATSMAN BLASTS 120 OFF JUST 42 BALLS
LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE
PREMIER: ROWE, NEWMAN SCORE FIRST SAINTS TONS
“Internally we think we’ve got a good group now,” he said.
“I think we’ve got a bit more depth, we added a couple of guys towards the back end of pre-season, and we’re in a good place.
“Obviously it’s been a dark time the last couple of years but performances like that show what we are capable of.”
The Lions will look for back-to-back wins when they host Ivanhoe on Saturday.
‘He just gets it done’: Dandenong’s glowing praise for young gun
Dandenong coach Tom Donnell has sung the praises of two star Panthers, including one he thinks could be making a historical start to his Premier Cricket career.
Magpies double-act sends Blues reeling
A pair of Camberwell Magpies rising stars produced performances some cricketers can only dream of in a Premier Cricket under-18s game where a Carlton opponent almost stole the show.