Cricket snicks: Brad McKenzie’s big day for Main Ridge, diamond ducks and out for 99

There were plenty of eye-popping and downright strange happenings throughout the grades in the MPCA on the weekend.

Main Ridge's Brad McKenzie had a big day.

Main Ridge all-rounder Ben McKenzie’s had a day to remember on Saturday.

He smashed 178 not out in the Cougars’ thirds, including a staggering 20 sixes.

No sooner had he taken off his pads than he was summoned to sub field in the club’s First XI on the adjacent oval after Cougar champ Gareth Wyatt was injured.

Ben did so, and even got to sing the song with the firsts, before heading back to his game and bowling seven overs for a return of 4-19.

Now that’s a day to remember.

ONE SHORT

Cricket is character building — just ask Sorrento chairman of selectors Robbie Dunball.

In the opening round, Robbie played in the Sharks’ thirds and was on 99 — on the verge of his first century for the club in 17 seasons — when he was given out LBW by teammate Kyle Bond.

There was pain of a different kind for Robbie the following week when he did his hamstring in the twos.

Robbie Dunball on the attack for Sorrento.

ANNUAL BATTLE

Still at Sorrento, and the Sharks hosted Queenscliff Cricket Club in the annual Battle of the Rip on Sunday.

Sorrento got up, chasing down 227, with Leigh Poholke blasting 62 not out and Pat Hall 50.

This year’s event was extra special, played in the memory of Sorrento legend Geoff Morgan, who started the event and absolutely loved it. Morgo died in June.

BURNT TWICE

Cricket first-timer Ash Scholes has had an inauspicious start to his career at Ballam Park.

Playing in the thirds, he’s been run out for a diamond duck (without facing a ball) in his first two games.

Apparently it hasn’t been his fault both times. That’s stiff.

HAPPY 18TH

Rosebud’s Liam Collett turned 18 on Saturday but wasn’t in the mood to celebrate after making a diamond duck in the Sharks’ loss to Carrum.

His gift? He had to wear the team’s Crocs, given to the first person to drop a catch or make a duck.

The Crocs worn by Rosebud's Liam Collett.

GOOGLE RECRUIT

Interesting story behind how Baden Powell came to get hard-hitting opener Beau Anthony, who blasted 126 last Saturday.

He moved to Melbourne last year from Western Australia, where he played for Bayswater-Postels, who share the same letters, BPCC, as Baden Powell.

Looking for a club, Anthony googled BPCC and found Baden Powell, lobbed at training and the rest, as they say, is history.

In his first game for the club last season, left-handed Anthony smashed the first ball he faced into the pine trees at Flinders. It was a sign of things to come.

PAINFUL INJURY

Still at Baden Powell and there was drama in the minutes before its opening round game against Langwarrin when Daniel Di Paolo sliced his hand on coach Craig Entwistle’s whiteboard.

So bad was the cut, he had to be driven to hospital by teammate and opening bowler Taylor Harrison.

Having dropped Di Paolo off, Harrison was on his way back to the game when he smashed into the back of another car, heavily damaging front panels of his car.

When Harrison eventually arrived back at the ground, Baden Powell was 5-30, and Harrison had to hastily put the pads on.

IRVO ON FIRE

It’s fair to say local footy player Chris Irving has made a successful comeback to cricket.

The Red Hill footy premiership champ is having a hit in Somerville’s fifths this season because his daughter is playing juniors at the club.

So far, Irving has been in the thick of the action — cracking 49 from No 11 to help Somey to victory in the opening round and last week capturing 5-30, plus a catch and a run out.

Chris Irving playing for Red Hill. Picture: Chris Eastman

STITCHES AND STRAWBS

A painful start to the season for a couple of Seaford Tigers players.

Thirds player Ieuan “Strawbs’’ Aubrey top-edged a ball into his nose off a medium pacer on Saturday and had to retire hurt and go to hospital for three stitches.

Doing the team thing, Strawbs, once stitched up, called his teammates to tell them he was returning to the game — only to be told “don’t bother, the opposition passed us in 15 overs’’.

And Seaford Tigers opening batsman Brayden Roscoe was a bit tender after being struck in the most painful place of all, two balls in a row.

Of course, his teammates had plenty of sympathy for him.

“As the game was at Main Ridge the sound was impressive for us up on the balcony,’’ chuckled Tigers skipper Dave James.

COUGARS CONCERNS

Carrum Downs has made its best start to a season for a while, winning its first three games.

But the Cougars have their injury concerns.

James Quarmby, Ryan Lynch and Josh Harkness have all strained their hamstrings in the past two weeks.

Opening bowler Michael Flahive’s surgeon has told him he needs a knee replacement, but he’s too young.

And Dave Dervan is battling a foot injury and will now sit out the rest of 2020.

But there is hope on the horizon. Brad Lockhart is back for Round 5, although he’s unavailable in Round 6.