Kew secures big win over Elsternwick as import snares hat-trick

Kew romped to a commanding win over VSDCA rival Elsternwick thanks to a maiden hat-trick and a remarkable four wickets in four balls.

Kew romped to a dominant VSDCA win over Elsternwick on Saturday as import Joe Cooke captured a stunning hat-trick.

The Englishman ripped through the Wicks batting order at Victoria Park, snaring his first five-wicket haul of the season with 5-12 and 8-34 for the match.

Cooke began by trapping Cameron Christiansen lbw for 24 before Kalhan Sineth was caught-behind and Cooper Davies was bowled.

The all-rounder admitted he was in disbelief when he completed the hat-trick.

“I might have got one a few years ago back in the UK but it’s my first one in senior cricket,” he said.

Kew import Joe Cooke took a hat-trick against Elsternwick. Picture: Ben Higgins

“It’s great to get my first five-for, I’ve not been getting many wickets this year, so it’s nice to get them all on one day.

“The ball was just doing a little bit, seaming off the wicket with a bit of grass on it.

“It was just disbelief, I couldn’t believe it happened to be honest. I didn’t do anything special and I got mobbed by the boys.”

Kew then made it an incredible four wickets in four balls when Callum Sinclair was run-out by a Will Troy direct hit.

The visitors slumped from 2-66 to 7-68 when spinner Ollie Birts picked up the wicket of Hugh Bennett shortly after.

Elsternwick was dismissed for just 96 and asked to follow on as Kew eyed an outright victory but held firm in the second dig, finishing 6-72 at stumps.

Cooke made the breakthrough in the first over of Elsternwick’s second innings when he trapped Joel Menzies lbw for a second-ball duck.

Troy had Connor Ridge caught-behind for two before Cooke struck again with the wicket of Christiansen and when Troy dismissed Dasun Opanayaka, the visitors were reeling at 4-15.

However, Davies (18) and Sineth (26) dug in to rescue their team.

The bowling performance comes on the back of Chris Weeks’ drought-breaking century on day one of the two-day clash.

Weeks’ 101, together with James Clark (63) and Cooke (32), helped Kew set 9-242 in the first innings.

Cooke now has 15 scalps for the season, equal with Troy and four behind team leader Will Sist.

NWMCA: AGE IS NO BARRIER TO LOCAL CRICKET LEGEND

LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE

MPCA: SKYE GUN SMASHES 247no, NEARS 1000 RUNS

After a slow start to the season, the Glamorgan talent has scored 81 and 32 in the two games since Christmas and taken 10 wickets.

“I started quite slow, I didn’t start as well as I wanted to do in late October, early November when I first arrived,” he said.

“I’m starting to get into a bit of rhythm now and it’s nice to get a few more overs under my belt in red-ball cricket.”

Kew remains on top of the VSDCA North-South group ladder, equal on points with Ormond, while Elsternwick drops to sixth.

DROUGHT-BREAKING CENTURY RESCUES LADDER-LEADER

A drought-breaking Chris Weeks century put Kew on the front foot in the first two-day match of the VSDCA season.

The premiership captain celebrated his first hundred since 2017-18 on Saturday, helping rescue his team after a horror top-order collapse against Elsternwick at Victoria Park.

Striding to the crease at 3-29, Weeks (101) – together with Joe Cooke (32) and James Clark (63) – helped guide the ladder-leader to 9-242 from its 80 overs.

The former captain was the final man dismissed, his 179-ball stay including eight boundaries and a six.

Coach Wayne Myers said all three batters helped turn around a dire situation.

Chris Weeks in action for Kew. Picture: George Sal

“Chris played a very good knock, showed all his experience coming in at a difficult time in the game,” Myers said.

“He hadn’t been in the best form but he was looking forward to two-day cricket and was certainly looking forward to yesterday and I can see why.

“If you can spend time in the middle without the pressure of scoring, you can cash in and to his credit he took full toll.

“Obviously Chris went on to get three figures but James’ performance can’t be under-stated either and our pro, Joe Cooke, played a valuable knock as well, to get us away from the opening bowlers.”

Dasun Opanayaka (4-30) and Callum Sinclair (2-29) ripped through the Kew top-order, removing key players Andrew Chalkley, skipper Matt Brown and David Wildsmith cheaply before Cooke and Weeks put on 29.

Weeks and Clark then combined for a 147-run fifth-wicket partnership to turn the match on its head.

Weeks brought up triple figures in the second last over the day to loud applause from the crowd.

Sitting third before the match, Elsternwick will return on Saturday to chase an upset victory and cement itself as a genuine premiership threat.

Will Sist bowling for Kew. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Leading run-scorers Joel Menzies and Opanayaka will be key wickets.

After the retirement of John Hastings and Tom Chalkley’s decision to step away, Will Sist has stepped up as Kew’s leading strike weapon.

The paceman has 18 scalps this season and sits equal fourth on the wicket-takers charts.

Myers was pleased to see his development and was confident his attack could get the job done.

“We would have liked more (runs) but it will have to be enough,” he said.

“We’ve got a good bowling line-up and we’ll back ourselves to defend it but both teams have an equal chance.

“With Hasto not in the line-up, Will has stepped up and led the attack.

“He’s found a great rhythm and been good for us every game.

“The bowlers are looking forward to playing with the red ball and I’m looking forward to seeing how they go.”

Elsewhere, several north group teams are facing difficult challenges in the first two-week game since 2019-20.

Ivanhoe is 4-18 in its second innings after being skittled for 93 and is facing an outright loss after Brighton declared on 3-106.

Tonner Peter Cassidy is one wicket away from a 10-wicket match after picking up 5-22 in the first innings and has 4-8 in the Saints’ second dig.

TALENT: TOP PERFORMERS IN THE JG CRAIG SHIELD

LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE

MPCA: BATTERS PLUNDER 14 CENTURIES

Coburg too is facing a mountain in the second week after Caulfield piled on 6-360 on the back of Jacob Thorne’s 135 not out and David Tantsis-Hall’s 114.

St Bernard’s was all out 231 in its top-six battle with Elsternwick, rescued by Conor McGuire’s 67 and captain-coach Kyle Adams’ 61 not out, while Matt Doric snared 4-49 with the ball.

Strathmore could only manage 207 batting first against Malvern but importantly picked up a late wicket as the visiting finish 1-6 at stumps.

Plenty Valley is in a strong position against Preston, going to stumps at 7-252 on the back of Naman Sharma’s 66 and some late hitting from captain-coach Michael Rogneda (47) and Aryan Sharma (45).