Premier Cricket: Thomson and Harper score centuries but Essendon beats Melbourne in classic

The Melbourne captain has spoken about his quest to play for Victoria again after a big century in an epic Premier match that yielded 814 runs.

Melbourne’s Blake Thomson on the drive against Essendon on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Blake Thomson was struggling to shrug a feeling of disappointment a day after making 188 for Melbourne on Saturday.

It was a classic bittersweet feeling for the Demons captain; he’d batted brilliantly but his side had lost in an epic finish.

Thomson was last man out — chopping on — as his side was dismissed for 402 in reply to Essendon’s 412 at the Albert Ground.

Melbourne had fallen just short in a game that yielded 814 runs.

Old timers around the club couldn’t remember such a high-scoring Premier match, aside from grand finals.

“I was pretty shattered that’s for sure,” Thomson said as he sat on the couch on Sunday afternoon.

“I felt like we were run a ball to win the game and I felt like we had to hit one boundary to win.

“I felt it was there and I could hit it for four or six so I backed myself and unfortunately I didn’t middle it.

“If I middled it we probably win the game.”

Essendon’s Tom O’Donnell jumps for joy. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Melbourne’s Blake Thomson. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Thomson shared a 161-run fourth wicket partnership with Sam Harper, who blasted 109 off 89 balls.

The pair took the score from 3-124 to 4-285 as Melbourne surged to within sight of a memorable win.

In the end Essendon pacemen Tom O’Donnell, who dismissed Thomson, and Cam McClure were the match winners.

At 25, Thomson is hungry for another opportunity at first-class level.

He’s been banging down the door, hitting 790 runs at 49.4 last season — and now an eye-popping knock of 188.

Thomson was dropped from the Vics squad after playing three one-dayers early in the 2017-18 season.

He feels like he deserves another opportunity.

“Yeah obviously deep down I do, yeah, I feel I’ve done the work, not just over one season,’’ he said.

“I feel like I’ve done the work over at least the last three seasons.

“I feel like I’m ready. Having a contract at 18 and 19 and losing my contract at 20 I feel like I sort of didn’t get the opportunity that I feel like some others have had.

“And I feel like back then I wasn’t one hundred percent ready for that standard of cricket but now with how much I’ve learnt, how much more trust I have in my game, I definitely feel like I’m ready to go now.

“That’s all I can do, just keep making runs, and keep putting my name up there, try and keep my name in front of the selectors’ eyes.”

Essendon’s Angus Price. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Melbourne’s Will Pucovski is dismissed. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Reigning premiers Melbourne, despite mountains of runs in the opening three weeks of the seaosn, is 0-2.

Thomson is backing his side to open its winning account soon.

It was a day of big runs at the Demons on Saturday.

Teenager Kyle Parrott made an unbeaten 138 (off 137 balls) to steer the third XI to a rousing victory, the Demons making 4-272 in reply to Essendon’s 8-270.

“It was his first game back from an injury, 130 odd not out to win them the game is an unbelievable effort,” Thomson said.

“Our depth has always been a strong suit of the club but at the moment I feel like we’re in a really good place, not just with our talent but with the people we’ve got around the club, our culture, I feel like we’re in a really good place.

“Everyone’s doing the work and challenging each other to get better.’’