Premier Cricket: Frankston opener scores maiden century in win over Essendon

Nick Taranto was picked in Frankston Peninsula’s fourths last year and now he’s scored his maiden Premier Cricket First XI century. He talks about his inspiring journey.

Century maker: Nick Taranto of Frankston Peninsula. Picture: Georg Sal

At 25, Nick Taranto is a century maker in Premier Cricket.

His unbeaten 100 in Frankston Peninsula’s gripping win over Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday continued his journey of persistence.

This time last year he was playing in Frankston’s thirds.

“To be honest I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Taranto said on Sunday.

“Obviously you set out to succeed and excel at the highest level you can. To climb that mountain now is pretty special.

“But I certainly don’t want to stop at one (century), that’s for sure.”

There were times when Taranto must have doubted he’d play First XI, let alone score a century — like the start of last season when he was picked in the fourths for a practice match.

He got 40 odd in that game and started the season in the thirds.

Nick Taranto.

Taranto.

A string of consistent scores earned Taranto promotion to the twos…and then to the First XI for the last seven games of the season.

This season he started in the ones but last week made a golden duck.

It prompted Taranto to go back to “the basics a little bit”.

“I had a chat to a few people during the week because I hadn’t had a good run for a while,” he said.

“(On Saturday) I just let the ball go a bit more at the start and played a bit more within myself I suppose and yeah, I just gave myself a bit more time to get in and get set, and then just carried on.”

Asked if he hit the ball well during his breakthrough century, a modest Taranto said: “I don’t hit them too well very often at all, I’m more of a poker and prodder but a few hit the middle and I got a couple to the fence so it wasn’t too bad.”

Taranto is in his second stint at Frankston Peninsula.

He joined the club at 16 and played two seasons before leaving and joining rivals Dandenong for a handful of thirds games in 2015-16.

“I went to Frankston at 16…played two seasons, half in the twos and half in the threes,” he said.

“I wasn’t getting out of it what what I wanted to get out of it. I had a relation (Ross Woodall) who was coach of Dandenong so I moved there when I was 18 and played five games.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I probably should have gone back to local cricket instead of going there for the first half of that season.

“I wanted to go back and learn how to bat long periods of time and score big runs, so I went back halfway through that season and played five and a half seasons again at Tyabb. And I’ve gone back to Frankston last season.”

Frankston Peninsula coach Paul Boraston said everyone at the Heat was “rapt for Nicko” after his ton.

“He batted the way we know he can play,” Boraston said.

“Just took the ones and hit the bad balls and batted the full 50 overs. That’s his role. Yeah, really happy because he’s missed out a couple of times, first ball, second ball, this year. I know he’s disappointed with that. He wasn’t out of form, he nicked off a couple of times early. It can happen.”

Boraston said he admired the way Taranto has approached his return to the Heat.

“He came back at the start of last year and we started him in the threes and he did exactly what was asked — he scored runs and made fifties and worked his way up,” he said.

“He’s earned his spot. Yeah, it is a good story.

“He’s 25 and got a lot of good cricket ahead of him.”

James Seymour of Essendon.

Taranto shared a 100-run third wicket partnership with Brodie Symons (45) as Frankston put up 8-247 off its 50 overs.

In reply, Essendon rushed to 0-59 with James Seymour (52 of 61 balls) in mint form. But Frankston’s bowlers stuck at it — and two run outs were vital — to dismiss the Bombers for 219.

That’s two wins in a row for the Heat.

“It was a really good win,’’ Boraston said.

“I think it gives us some real good confidence now that we’ve knocked off a couple of good teams.

“Hopefully we can go from strength to strength.

“That winning habit is something that we’ve obviously not had for a while.

“We’re not sitting where we want to be, we want to be inside the eight. We’ve still got a lot of work to do but it gives us a chance now with a couple of games before Christmas.”

Frankston Peninsula’s seconds scored a rousing run-chase win over Essendon at Butler Oval. Set 230, the Heat achieved victory in the 46th over, making 6-233, with skipper Nick Mann unbeaten on 94 and Ryan Hammel making 66.