Matthew Brown, John Hastings combined to power Kew past Coburg
A move down the order paid dividends for Matthew Brown and the star Kew batsman also proved his talent with the ball against Coburg.
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It was the Matthew Brown show at Coburg City Oval on Saturday.
The Kew star was dominant with bat and ball, leading his team to a 100-run win over Coburg and back into top spot on the VSDCA North-East ladder.
Sliding down to No.4 from his usual opening slot, Brown pounded 81 runs in 91 balls – his second score of 80-plus this season.
With Kew in early trouble at 3-50, he combined with John Hastings (53 off 52) for a 121-run fourth-wicket partnership. The visitors posting 6-205 after being sent in.
Brown then cleaned up the Lions with the ball, claiming 4-13, to cap a virtuoso performance.
Kew captain Chris Weeks praised his selflessness.
“He was keen to do it (move to No.4), we spoke about maybe a month or so ago, he flagged it with me as something worth exploring.
“This week was the perfect opportunity to do it and the way he controlled the innings was exceptional, he’s obviously a very, very good player.
“Whether No.1 or No.4 he’ll score runs wherever.
“He also got the opportunity to have a bowl, which he was looking forward to, he’s in my ear every week.
“He bowls Anil Kumble style, fast leg-spin, I don’t know if they spin but they drift in and he got a couple of bowled and lbws.
“I tell you what he has been doing, holding onto some absolute screamers in the slips, he’s taken three or four, a couple of one-handers, so he’s going well.”
After a strong performance with the ball, Hastings then set his sights on the Coburg top order.
He removed Lions star Aaron Ayre first ball with what Weeks described as “unplayable” and finished with 2-15.
“Hasto hit the ball as cleanly as I’ve seen and then with the ball, getting early wickets, he bowled an unplayable ball to Aaron Ayre – most other blokes wouldn’t even nick it,” Weeks said.
Daniel Patrick was Coburg’s best, claiming 2-38 and top-scoring with 28.
Kew was missing several key players, most notably Andrew Chalkley, due to COVID and the end of Christmas holidays.
Will McGlaughlin, Liam Powell, Jacob de Paiva and Bernie Anderson took their opportunities.
McGlaughlin and de Paiva impressed with the ball, taking 1-18 and 1-20 respectively, Powell was tidy behind the stumps and took one catch, and Anderson scored nine opening the batting in difficult conditions.
“We were affected, like most clubs, but it just shows our depth,” Weeks said.
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“Will McGlaughlin, who’s got a couple of opportunities this year came in and bowled really well, Jacob de Paiva has been back in the twos and he came back up and bowled without luck.
“We brought Bernie up, he opens in the Seconds, so he opened the batting with me on Saturday and Powelly got 80-odd in the twos last game and kept very well – he’s another that’s got a bright future.
“It’s a juggling act to keep everyone hungry and ready for when they are required.”
With the exception of David Wildsmith, Kew expects to get the majority of its first-choice First XI back for Saturday’s clash against St Bernard’s at Victoria Park.
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