Premier Cricket 2019-20: Kobe Smith takes three wickets in third game for Fitzroy Doncaster
Young paceman Kobe Smith set the tone for Fitzroy Doncaster during day one of its clash against Geelong, taking three top-order scalps in just his third game of Premier Cricket.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Who is Kobe Smith?
The third-game paceman took three wickets in two overs on Saturday and was on a hat-trick as Fitzroy Doncaster took control of its Premier Cricket clash against Geelong.
Smith, 19, removed Mitch Reid and Hayden Butterworth, both for ducks, in consecutive deliveries and dismissed young star Tom Jackson for 1 to claim the first three wickets in the Round 7 clash at Geelong Cricket Ground.
His spell in the first 20 minutes of play set up Fitzroy Doncaster’s day as it dismissed the Cats for 203 on a ground that regularly produces scores above 300.
Smith is a Coomealla Wentworth product, near Mildura on the Victorian-NSW border, and is in his first season at Schramms Reserve.
The tall right-armer made his First XI debut against Prahran in a rain-affected Round 5 fixture and will represent Vic Country at next month’s under-19 national championships in Perth.
Fitzroy Doncaster captain Ejaaz Alavi said injuries to Sam Elliott, Harrison Goad and Jake Sherriff opened up a spot for Smith in the Lions’ attack.
Elliott was one of three inclusions, with Peter Dickson (hamstring) and Nat Vardi (hand) also returning.
Alavi said Smith’s consistency to hit a line and length was his best attribute.
“He’s one of those new players to the club we didn’t know much about,” Alavi said.
“He was always going to start in the seconds but, by all reports, he was just the pick of the bowlers every week.
“The opportunity rose and we picked him.
“He’s a quiet, unassuming kid but competes hard and hits a good spot ball after ball.”
Geelong is typically dominated by bat but Alavi elected to bowl on a wicket that encouraged the bowlers.
“We saw the wicket and it looked like there was enough in it and that turned out to be the case,” he said.
“We were really happy with the score of 200 chasing there and we’ve just got to get the job done now.”
MORE LOCAL CRICKET NEWS
PRAHRAN SENDS WARNING TO RIVALS
RUMMANS IN THE RUNS FOR CAULFIELD
RICKY DAMIANO HITS HIS 16TH VSDCA TON
DANNI DODGSON FOLLOWING IN FOOTSTEPS OF CRICKET PIONEER
Jack Rudd and Zac Elliott shared a 72-run stand for the first wicket as Fitzroy Doncaster reached 3-117 by stumps.
Elliott was dismissed for a run-a-ball 36 and Noah Korkolis (7) was quick to follow.
Liam Banthorpe (19) was trapped lbw by McGlinchey in the last over, as Alavi promoted himself to nightwatchman.
He and Jack Rudd (44 not out) will resume the reply on day two.