Northcote paceman Sam Harbinson takes Victoria Second XI opportunity with both hands
Northcote quick Sam Harbinson shone on debut for Victoria’s Second XI and hopes higher honours will follow for himself and his Dragons teammates as they eye a Premier Cricket title.
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Northcote paceman Sam Harbinson hopes his Victoria Second XI debut is the catalyst for higher honours.
Not only for himself but the Dragons as well, as the club eyes its first Premier Cricket First XI flag since 1996-97.
Harbinson is enjoying a career-best season in 2019-20, smashing his personal-best wicket tally and providing handy lower-order runs to earn state recognition.
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He has not let the opportunity go to waste, taking the new ball and picking up 2-49 and 3-52 in the win over ACT/NSW Country.
Despite batting at No.11, Harbinson also added a valuable 38 from 34 balls in Victoria’s first innings.
“It was good to get a taste … making the step up, it was good to measure myself against players of that calibre,” Harbinson said.
“It’s good to see blokes from Premier Cricket get some recognition, it shows the depth of Victorian cricket.
“I think I can compete at the level, but I’ll have a chat with the coach after the game and see where I stand.
“It was awesome (to open the bowling), it was the first time bowling with a Dukes ball.
“It took me a few overs to get my radar, to find a length because it’s got to be a bit different with a Dukes ball. It definitely swings around a lot more than a Kookaburra.”
Harbinson collected 25 wickets from his first 11 Premier Cricket games this season, leaving him fourth on the competition’s leading wicket-takers chart.
His previous best was 22 scalps in 2015-16.
Combined with fellow opening bowler Michael Edwards, spinner Joe Medew-Ewen (both 20 wickets) and Jonty Rushton (18), the Dragons have one of the best attacks in the competition.
The return of Matt Short from Big Bash duties with Adelaide Strikers and additions of Ben Abbatangelo and Solomon Mire will bolster the batting.
Fourth on the ladder after 12 rounds, Northcote is eyeing the double chance.
“Everyone at Northcote has stepped up this season and hopefully we can finish strong and go deep in finals,” Harbinson said.
“There’s a few guys that have good experience, so if we do get the chance in finals you never know what can happen.
“We play some good red ball cricket and I think we’ll surprise a few sides.”
The Dragons tackles Essendon in a two-day fixture this Saturday-Sunday and face Melbourne University and Kingston Hawthorn in the run home.