Bacchus Marsh gun Sam Lalor’s maiden senior ton was something special

Bacchus Marsh 15-year-old Sam Lalor produced one of the most destructive tons seen in the GDCA and it was his maiden senior century.

Bacchus Marsh cousins Sam and Archie Lalor.

Bacchus Marsh young gun Sam Lalor’s maiden First XI century was something special.

Bulls teammates looked on in awe as the 15-year-old torched the Sunbury Kangaroos attack with 11 sixes and four boundaries before falling for 105 from just 63 balls.

Not only was it Lalor’s first senior ton but one of the most destructive in GDCA history.

It ensured a clinical seven-wicket win as the Bulls chased down 164 with 12 overs to spare at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Reserve.

Coach Paul Baker knew from the first ball Lalor was seeing them like beach balls.

Reece Watson bowling for Bacchus Marsh. Picture: Richard Serong

“He cracked the first ball to point, I thought ‘jeez, he’s hit that well’, Baker said.

“It was just beautiful timing and brute force, he hit the ball extremely well.

“We were at the racecourse, it’s not as big as Maddingley (Oval) but it’s not small, I think most of his sixes would have been sixes on Maddingley.

“Once he got up and running it was hard to stop him.

“Typical left-hander, a lot were over backward square, mid-wicket, but he did play all the shots and ran well between the wickets.

“It was a good all-round performance backing up his keeping, which was very good as well.”

It was Lalor’s first game back after an equally impressive Youth Premier League campaign with Central Highlanders.

Lalor was the second highest run-scorer in the competition with 347 at an average of 49.57 and one century as the Highlanders claimed the title.

Between Bacchus Marsh senior and under-17s, Vic Country, Youth Premier League, Premier Cricket and GDCA representative games, Lalor has played 28 matches this season and scored 845 runs at 42.25.

The youngster will also suit up for Northcote in the Premier Cricket Dowling Shield, which begins on Sunday.

After winning the toss and batting Sunbury Kangaroos were restricted to 6-164.

Mace Green scored 56 – his first half century of the season – to lift his team to a defendable total.

Bacchus Marsh skipper Tom Wardell was the pick of the bowlers with 2-21, while Archie Lalor claimed 1-7 from five overs.

Baker said it would have been a tricky chase if not for Lalor and opening partner David Dickinson’s (16) strong start and then Nick Strangio (26).

“It was going to be a challenging chase, one of those scores if you bat well you win but lose a couple of early wickets you put yourself under pressure,” he said.

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“With what Sam and Dave did in the first few overs, we got to 50 pretty quickly and it was smooth sailing from there.

“I think Nick’s innings was big part of why Sam got to a hundred, a senior player, played the ultimate team role, knocked it around got him back on strike and talked to him throughout.”

Bacchus Marsh remains second on the ladder behind Sunbury United, which defeated Diggers Rest Bulla but 101 runs.

Elsewhere, Gisborne were too good for Wallan by eight wickets, Romsey beat Woodend by 53 runs and Rupertswood were seven-wicket victors against East Sunbury.