Lachie Bangs blasts off with 11 sixes and century for Prahran

Lachie Bangs, 21, is quickly earning a reputation as one of Victorian Premier Cricket’s most exciting players.

Lachie Bangs walks off Toorak Park unbeaten and to hearty applause. Pic: John ‘Zebra’ Zarb.

Bang. Actually, make that Bangs.

Prahran lost Adam Bull, Damon Egan and Jake Hancock to slump to 3-41 in its pursuit of Melbourne University’s 8-199 at Toorak Park on Saturday.

Not to worry.

By the 33rd over, the match was over after an extraordinary innings by young True Blue Lachie Bangs.

The left-hander blazed 110 not out – with 11 sixes and 6 fours – off only 67 balls to record a spectacular second century in Victorian Premier Cricket.

He and Nick Blaich put on an unbroken 160 for the fourth wicket, overwhelming the Uni bowlers.

The pair walked off to hearty applause at 5.25pm, a bonus point in their team’s keeping.

Blaich, who had brought up his maiden century against Melbourne seven days earlier, was 69 not out off 96 balls, an innings spiced with 4 sixes and 3 fours.

The victory lifted Prahran from sixth to fourth on the ladder with a record of five wins and two losses.

Lachie Bangs with proud parents Rick and Roz. Pic: John ‘Zebra’ Zarb.

Bangs, 21, gained attention with his 103 off 100 balls, with 7 sixes, in the Round 4 match against Ringwood, but that was a sedate knock compared to Saturday, when he hit out fabulously and furiously after what he thought was a scratchy start to his innings.

“Was pretty funny actually. I came in when we were struggling a little bit and I was struggling a lot,’’ he said.

“I couldn’t really hit it the first 20 or 30 balls Then I got one away – a slog-sweep over square leg – and I thought I’d keep going with it. And that’s what happened. I was struggling then I found a little groove.’’

Appropriately, he brought up the winning runs with a six down the ground.

Bangs joined the True Blues in 2018-19 from Subbies club Kew, where he rose to play in the First XI late in the season under the coaching of Justin Graham, now Prahran’s assistant coach.

Will Sutherland encouraged him to join the True Blues, and in his first season he was promoted for a debut in Round 2 and hit 40.

He made steady progress in 2019-20 and has flourished in the one-day format this season.

“I didn’t think I’d start a season like this,’’ he said.

“It’s a nice little surprise. Hopefully we can rock and roll through Carlton (on Tuesday) and go up the ladder.’’

Asked about his ambitions for his cricket, Bangs, a curator at Como Park, said: “Just see how far I can take it. I’d love to get to a point where it’s a bit more than a couple of training nights a week and a game on Saturday.

“I’ve been having a lot of fun at Prahran for the last two-and-a-bit years so I’ve got to stay in the present.’’

Matt Wilcox had another good match for the True Blues, taking 2-18 off eight overs to lift his season tally to 14 wickets at 12.5.

Quickie Andrew Perrin took 2-36 off 10.

Prahran is at Toorak Park again on Tuesday, hosting Carlton.