ECA 2020-21: Old Carey the pacesetter in Dunstan Shield

Promoted to the top grade after last season’s ECA Wright Shield flag, Old Carey is undefeated and its captain in red-hot form.

Captain Callum Still is firing with bat and ball for Old Carey. Picture: Jordan Ciuro

The promoted side is the only undefeated side in the Eastern Cricket Association’s top grade.

Old Carey, last season’s Wright Shield premier, is sitting pretty atop the ladder after three rounds with wins over Surrey Hills, Marcellin Old Collegians and Mont Albert.

While heavyweights North Balwyn, East Doncaster, Canterbury and Mont have justifiably hogged the headlines, the Dunstan Shield newcomer – which carries the quirky nickname the Cheese – has been quick to make its mark.

“Having been around the group for the past few years, I definitely had confidence we could be competitive,” Old Carey skipper Callum Still said.

“If we play how we want to play, we can be competitive against anyone.

“To say we’ve exceeded expectation probably wouldn’t be fair, nor would it be fair to say we expected to be struggling. Our expectation was just to be competitive I think.

“If you give yourself a chance in every game, then the season could go really well for you.

“My expectation as a player and captain is we’ve just got to find a way to be competitive every week, and we’ve done that so far.”

Old Carey celebrates its 2019-20 ECA Wright Shield flag. Picture: Supplied

The Cheese claimed its biggest scalp of the season on Saturday, conquering a Mont Albert side featuring former Premier Cricket club captains Sam Taylor and Nathan McNally.

Still spearheaded the triumph with a superb all-round performance.

Batting at No.4, he punched out a fine 93 to help his team recover from 3-26 to post a healthy 8-208 from its 40 overs.

Still shared a crucial 94-run stand with Tim Gayfer, who contributed 41.

Still said he had “confidence the team can build a score after the ball stops swinging”, adding he was “pretty scratchy towards the end” of his innings as fatigue took over.

“I started to run out of legs a little bit,” he said.

“I had a little bit of luck towards the end, but it was good to get a couple out of the middle.

“When it’s going your way, you can have a good day I guess. They probably could have had me a couple of times, but luck was with me.”

Still was also the standout performer with the ball, grabbing 6-29 from 7.4 fruitful overs.

He was ably supported by spinners Tad Merry (2-28) and Daniel Clarke (1-29) as Mont Albert was bowled out for 186 in 38.4 overs.

Asked if he sends down spin or pace, Still said that was “up for debate”, but the mixed bag approach is reaping huge rewards.

“I just try to change it up and keep the batsmen guessing a bit,” he said.

“We’re lucky that we’ve got three good spinners in the team.

“The spinners coming in and changing the pace up on a big ground made a difference for us.

“We’re obviously excited to go up into Dunstan, show everyone what we’ve got and see how our cricket would stack up against some really good teams.

“Mont Albert is definitely a good team, so to come away with a win was really, really good.”

Old Carey is fielding a similar First XI line-up to last season, with paceman Ben Jowett opting to have a crack at Premier Cricket after collecting 35 wickets in the past two summers.

But the key out has not impacted on the club’s performances.

“We’re really lucky we’ve got a lot of good young kids,” Still said.

“On the weekend, I think eight of our 11 were aged under 25 … we’re really happy we’ve got some good young players who can come in and take the opportunity.”

Marcellin OC batsman Lachlan Evans gets on the front foot on Saturday. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Elsewhere in Dunstan Shield, North Balwyn (7-166) defeated Heathmont (139) with captain Nitesh Patel contributing 62 and James Binney snaring 3-17.

Daniel Kiely hit 90 to help Marcellin OC (9-198) to a close win over East Doncaster (7-196), while Canterbury (7-204) thumped Surrey Hills (102) with Andy Mills collecting 4-16 and Sam Starkins 3-23.