CSB: Star bat recommits to Bayside as young talent emerges
Bayside is bursting with young talent and premiership success as the club’s steady rise continues in Cricket Southern Bayside.
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Bayside is booming.
The club based in Highett celebrated two senior premierships in the 2024-25 season — and that followed two flags the year before.
Bayside’s First XI was promoted into Cricket Southern Bayside Division 2 and finished third — four wins in front of fourth — to qualify for the semi-finals.
Luck, though, was against it in the semi.
After being in a good position after day one against Clayton District, rain washed away the side’s hopes.
There were excellent individual performers for the season, most notably opener Dylan Woolley with 485 runs, including two centuries, captain Harrison Bean with 373 runs and vice-captain James Vakis with 371 runs.
With the ball, spin duo Richie Hunter and Josh Sugden were in the top five performers for the division with 32 and 26 wickets respectively.
In the semi-final Bayside had eight players 21 years old or younger which demonstrates the promise for the future.
Star bat Woolley has recommitted to Bayside for next season, which is a great start to preparations for the 2025-26 season.
Bayside’s second XI won the CSB Division 5 grand final beating Cheltenham away from home 191-99.
Captain Ryan Smith won player of the grand final with an excellent 4-18. Kane D’Atri (50) and Mitchell Sugden (36) led the way with the bat.
The grand final winning team had eight teenagers and two 21 year olds, highlighting the young talent set to progress to the first eleven in future seasons.
D’Atri (373 runs) and Sugden (311 runs) were in the top three run scorers for the division, and 19-year-old Jonny Yarwood led the division with 38 wickets at 7.79, ably supported by 19yo Jonny Roser with 20 wickets at 18.
Bayside’s Third XI won back-to-back flags, beating Mentone 187-93 at the Dane Rd Oval in Moorabbin. Club legend David Bambridge was crowned player of the match after taking 4-13 off 8 overs with the ball, and a crucial 27 runs off 23 balls in the middle order. 14-year-old Owen Bernes was outstanding also with 47 runs opening and taking 1-8 off 5 overs. Fellow opener Rishi Pradhan made 50 runs.
The team was dominant all season, finishing the regular season on top of the ladder. Youngster Owen Bernes was in the top three run scorers for the division with 426 runs, in a season where he also played JG Craig cricket for Elsternwick with his older brother Ethan. Spinner Harsh Mehta was the top bowler for the entire division, taking 29 wickets at 13.
Bayside’s Sunday eleven also qualified for a semi-final against Bentleigh, before their season was curtailed like the first eleven by a wet March Sunday.
Bayside’s flag men:
2nd XI: Ryan Smith (captain), Seamus McIlroy, Ryan Bondesan, Jonny Yarwood, Mitchell Sugden (WK), Ethan Olliver, Mitchell Smith, Jonny Roser, Kane D’Atri, Dylan McMaster, Aidan Carr, Will Moser.
3rd XI: Owen Bernes, Hrishikesh Pradhan, Liam Cole, Earl Fernando, Harsh Patel, Ethan Bernes, David Bambridge, Bhaskar Kalaivanan, Danny Spencer, Labib Chowdhury, Harsh Mehta, Ryan Smith (captain).
Club awards:
Burcher-Hanlon Medal(1st XI best and fairest): Josh Sugden
Michael Neale Medal (2nd XI B&F): Jonny Yarwood
Patt Quinn Medal (3rds): David Bambridge
Ross Phillipson Medal (4ths): Daniel Stol and Max Ciappara
John Krause Medal (5ths): Jonny Roser
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