James Seymour’s homecoming to remember as Essendon win thriller

Essendon captain James Seymour talks us through his match-winning century and how the Bombers got over the line in a thriller against Richmond.

It was a homecoming to remember for James Seymour as Essendon edged Premier Cricket rival Richmond in Bendigo on Saturday.

The Bombers captain carried his team to victory with a match-winning century, hitting a six on the third last ball of the day to clinch a thrilling two-wicket win at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Victoria and Melbourne Stars ace finished unbeaten on 119 from 159 deliveries, chasing down 181 for the win.

Seymour said it was a special moment on a ground that he’d grown up on.

“It was good to play at QEO, I played a lot of cricket there since I was 14 or 15,” he said.

James Seymour in action for Essendon. Picture: Hamish Blair

“It’s a great ground and the BDCA put on a good day for us.

“I really wanted to take the game as deep as I could.

“I said to the boys ‘let’s just try to get to 150 with three overs to go and give ourselves a chance’.

“We didn’t have wickets in hand but I thought if we needed 30 off the last three overs we were still a show.

“Cam McClure held his nerve at the end and Tom O’Donnell played a handy innings as well to get us close.”

The ton, his third of the campaign, extends Seymour’s lead at the top of the Premier Cricket run-scoring charts with 548 at 78.29.

O’Donnell was the next best scorer for Essendon, making 18, while Liam Molloy was the only other batter to reach double figures.

Richmond spearhead Mitch Perry had threatened to win the game single-handedly for the Tigers.

Richmond paceman Mitchell Perry. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The state quick top-scored with the bat, making 46, before falling to second-gamer Lachlan Busk, and then ripped through the Essendon top order and finished with 3-35.

Chris Williams, Farzan Chowna and Isaac Willett all fell to Perry and with Michael Hill run out, the Bombers were 4-23.

However, with Seymour at the crease Essendon were never out of the game and needed 29 off the last three overs and 10 runs from the final over.

Richmond skipper Dom Matarazzo couldn’t hold his Bombers counterpart in check.

“Mitch Perry bowled the third last over and they changed it and went with Matarazzo in the last over, so I was a bit surprised by that,” Seymour said.

“You see in T20s now, 10, 12, 15 (runs) an over, it’s doable now so you’re always a chance.

“You watch some of the games on TV and think it would be cool to do something like, that would be pretty cool.

“To get the win is really important and it’s nice to contribute and get some runs.”

Earlier, O’Donnell (3-27), McClure (3-27) and Molloy (3-25) had restricted Richmond to 181.

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Dutch international Scott Edwards (35), Sam Mills (25) and Reiley Mark (25) were leading scorers behind Perry.

The win sees Essendon jump to sixth with one more one-day game before the season turns to two-day fixtures.

The Bombers face Footscray, Geelong, Melbourne and St Kilda in the next month in a test of their finals aspirations.

“We were in a similar ladder position with Richmond and after the Christmas period we have a lot of sides above us, so it was good to get the win and get some confidence,” Seymour said.