Cricket Southern Bayside: Bentleigh teenager Tully Foot delivers match-winning spell

Unheralded teenager Tully Foot was the unlikely hero in Bentleigh’s win over Parkdale in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Tully Foot (right) was Bentleigh’s match-winner on Saturday.

Tully Foot switched from bowling spin to medium pace in the off-season, believing he could produce something special with his zippy seamers.

On Saturday, his decision was vindicated when he captured 5-11 off seven overs to sensationally bowl Bentleigh to victory over Parkdale in Round 9 of Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Division.

Bowling “a heavy ball”, 17-year-old Foot had stumps flying — clean bowling four Parkdale batsmen — (his other wicket was LBW) as Parkdale crashed all out for 111, in pursuit of Bentleigh’s 7-156.

Brendan Drew snared 1-13 for Bentleigh. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bentleigh captain-coach Jarrad Dowling said Foot backed himself and has worked hard.

“He’s been a young developing batsman, and he still is,” Dowling said.

“I had a chat to him in pre-season — he used to bowl spin — and he said to me, ‘you know what, I don’t want to bowl off spin, I think I’ve got something with my meds (mediums) and I quite enjoy bowling them’.”

Dowling initially tried to persuade Foot to continue with spin.

“He said, ‘I appreciate that, but again I think I want to focus on some seam up’,’’ Dowling said.

“I said, ‘no worries, that’s fine, I’m not here to tell you who you are as a cricketer but rather you tell me that and we’ll work on it’.

“He’s put the hard work in and got the call up.

Will Bowden on the drive.

“I threw the ball to him yesterday because I know he’s been putting in the hard work.”

Dowling said Foot, who played the first six games in the seconds this season, surprised batsmen with his pace.

“He sneaks up on you with pace, he’s unassuming but he bowls a heavy ball,” he said.

“We’ve been talking about pounding a good length which he did yesterday...he hit a really good length and got through the gate four times.”

Foot also made a vital contribution with the bat, 15 not out, as Bentleigh overcame some wobbles after openers Shane Jeffree (68) and Rob Ciccarella (39) put on 84.

Parkdale skipper Dale Elmi tried hard, taking 5-16 off eight overs with his leg spinners. But it was Tully’s day.

Hampton No.3 Will Bowden made 51 (63 balls, six boundaries), opener Oliver Tate 44 and Charlie Ross 32no to steer the Seahorses to a much-needed victory over Carnegie.

Chasing 168, Hampton found form to make 4-171 off 38.5 overs. Ross also snared 4-19 with the ball.

The Seahorses remain on the bottom of the ladder.

Murrumbeena’s Will Kelly hammered two sixes and six fours on his way to a match-winning 62 not out off 66 balls as the Beena reeled in Bonbeach’s 198, making 7-199 off 40 overs.

Xavier Ross (38), Alex Hay (27) and Nuwan Karunarathne (18no off 10 balls) also made vital runs.

Ladder leaders South Caulfield held off a gallant Beaumaris to win by a run in a thriller at Princes Park.

Souths put up 160, thanks to skipper Will Russell’s 68 off 108 balls (with 7 fours), and then held the Sharks to 8-159. Joel Rigoni impressed with 3-30 and Lewis Mildenhall and Jono Curtis took two wickets apiece, while for Beaumaris Angus Rowe made 64 not out at No.7.