Premier Cricket 2023-24: Jack Czosnek helps Richmond to elimination final win on debut

Finals experience runs deep through Richmond’s First XI – but a fresh-faced teen in his first top-flight outing turned heads as his side sent a rival packing from the flag race.

Jack Czosnek in action for La Page Park. Picture: Supplied

FIRST XI debuts don’t come much bigger.

Sixteen-year-old Jack Czosnek stepped into Richmond’s elimination final with no worries in his maiden top-flight appearance as his side put on 6-288 in its run-chase victory over Fitzroy Doncaster, 7-287.

Knocking a crucial 45 runs off 86 balls batting at No. 5, the teen, who also represents Caulfield at APS level, was warming up for the Second XI when he received a late tap on the shoulder, taking the place of an injured Austin Anlezark.

“It was really strange how it all happened,” Richmond captain Sam Mills said.

“With the APS cricket rules, the APS players are available to play on Sunday.

“He (Jack) was going to be playing in our twos, then overnight we had an injury, Austin’s ankle blew up … he wouldn’t have been able to run at all.

“(Jack) only found out the morning of Sunday, so I think that makes it more impressive.

“He was at the twos’ ground warming up, and obviously he can’t drive, so he then got driven across to Schramms Reserve.

“When he walked out, he looked so assured from the first ball. There’s definitely a big future ahead of him.”

Spinner Reiley Mark produced another masterclass with 4-87, halting Lions opener Jack Rudd on 81 runs.

The young gun’s performance followed an 8-45 effort against Frankston Peninsula.

Reiley Mark. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“On the weekend I’d say he bowled better than he did the week before – I know he took eight-for, but there were some favourable conditions and on the weekend he didn’t have much to work with,” Mills said.

“He created all his chances himself and was really smart with how he bowled.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan D’Rozario (63 runs off 110 balls) propelled the run-chase alongside Andrew Humphries and Max Parker with unbeaten knocks of 56 and 32 respectively.

“We had a plan that we wanted to try and set a platform and take the chase deep, and we knew that if we were going to get it, we were going to get it right at the end of the day,” Mills said.

“A good partnership between Rhys Healy and ‘Jono’ and then Jack Czosnek and ‘Jono’ and we had that platform at tea.

“We gave ourselves a chance to chase them down.

“Andrew Humphries has done it multiple times, to get 56 off 49 balls when all the pressure is on, then Max walking out with still 56 runs to get, he came out totally calm.”

The Tigers’ four-wicket win sets up a showdown with Ringwood this weekend, after the pair met in last year’s semi-finals.

“They beat us in the final last year and beat us comfortably earlier this season, so we’ve got one to get back against them,” Mills said.