Mackenzie Harvey hopes his Premier Cricket finals series is proof of his state level capabilities

Victoria contracted Mackenzie Harvey says his second-innings century in Sunday’s Premier Cricket grand final was bittersweet after a frustrating summer.

Mackenzie Harvey is hoping his terrific Premier Cricket finals series is proof he still has plenty to offer at state level.

The left-hander struck 108 from just 86 balls on Sunday, facing 14 dots, as Carlton pushed for a second-innings grand final victory over Melbourne.

While Harvey failed in the first innings, his second-dig hundred sat alongside 97 against Richmond in the qualifying final a fortnight earlier.

The 22-year-old admits he has known some disappointments this year when things didn’t go his way but is happy he performed on the big stage.

“Personally, it’s been very tough, when you’re not getting the runs you want and you are almost trying harder, it can kick you while you’re down – it’s a cruel sport sometimes,” he said.

“I feel like I haven’t done much different to previous years, I just haven’t had things go my way and that happens, it would’ve been nice to have a few more runs throughout the year but there’s not much I can do about it now.

“Anytime you can make a few runs in a grand final is pretty handy but, obviously, it would’ve been nice to have a win as well.

“Personally I haven’t had the greatest season runs wise and it’s been very frustrating, so to finish on that and head into the off-season with that as my last performance is kind of nice.

“It’s bittersweet not getting the win but the boys put in a hell of an effort to get us in with a chance late into day three.

“We’re pretty proud of what we have done this year, it’s just unfortunate that Melbourne played well, that’s just how cricket goes.”

Mackenzie Harvey walks off saluting his century. Pictures: CM THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Harvey – who signed with Victoria in 2018 as a 17-year-old – caught the attention of selectors when he pummeled an England bowling attack featuring Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett on his way to a 39-ball half-century in a warm up game.

He says returning to that attacking mindset on Sunday, when the shackles of expectation were released, brought back a feeling he enjoyed.

“Throughout the year you’re focused on numbers a lot and you’re expecting a lot from yourself,” he said.

“Just going out in the second dig, Evan (Carlton captain-coach Evan Gulbis) said let’s just try and get as many as we can, the field is out so it’s a lot harder to get out than make runs.

“To have that license to go out, hit the ball hard, have a bit of fun was pretty nice; to have that feeling again of enjoying batting again was pretty cool.”

Australia's Mackenzie Harvey raises his bat after scoring 50 for Cricket Australia XI. (AAP Image/David Moir)

Gulbis was full of praise for his young opening bat and urged Victorian selectors to persist with Harvey.

“It was great for Mack, in that situation you can almost take away the restrictions and just go about what you do,” he said.

“He’s a nice striker of the ball and he’s really fit, to be able to run as many twos as he did and not check out, I think he only hit seven boundaries in that 100, but it was an 80-ball hundred.

“I think it illustrated how professional he was about getting a job done because he was able to pick gaps, run hard and not rely on clearing the fence to make a quick century.

“I think the growth in his game has been there this year, I think when you’re going to contract someone like they (Victoria) did with him at a young age, you have to allow them to grow and learn their game.

“That’s why you have taken a punt on them at such a young age, you know type of player he is, they hit the ball well, they’re x-factor, but you have to allow them to mature into the player they want to be.

“We have seen over the finals campaign and coming into the finals, Macca has been batting really well, so I think if you give him a shot at 18, why wouldn’t you give him a shot when he’s at an age where he knows his game and is starting to perform.”

Harvey finished the Premier Cricket season with 431 runs at an average of 30.79.