Preston chase down St Bernard’s to celebrate Michael Hayes’ 250th game

Marcus Murphy and Sajith Kalumpriya helped set up Preston and milestone man and captain Michael Hayes put on the finishing touches.

Marcus Murphy in action for Preston. Picture: Hamish Blair

Preston captain Michael Hayes was the toast of Cramer St on Saturday after knocking in the winning runs in his 250th match for the Bullants.

The club great put the finishing touches on an impressive five-wicket upset win over last season’s VSDCA semi-finalist St Bernard’s.

Paceman Marcus Murphy helped set up the victory, claiming 4-35, as the Snowdogs were dismissed for 147 at Preston City Oval.

Sajith Kalumpriya (40), Thimira Jayasinghe (37), coach Luke Bramich (29) and skipper Hayes (16) then steered the hosts home at 5-149.

Bramich was rapt to have been able to celebrate Hayes’ big game in style.

Upul Bandara in action for Preston. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Michael, the skipper, hit the winning runs. It was incredible,” he said.

“To play 250 games for any club is huge and his heart and soul is in Preston, so to get the win for him was amazing.

“He’s a legend, there was some story telling over a couple of drinks, we asked who your favourite bloke to play cricket with and I think everyone in that group saying Haysey.

“He can be a bit of a larrikin sometimes, a smart arse, but he’s very honest and will help anyone.”

Murphy was on a hat-trick after picking up the wickets of Luke Marinelli and Chris Spinella but couldn’t beat Tristan Kassis for a third.

The former Epping quick has impressed since arriving at Preston and after going wicketless in Round 1 has eight scalps at 16.13.

“Marcus got off to a bit of a shaky start, one of their openers took him for about 20 off two overs,” Bramich said.

“Then he got his length right and all of a sudden snared four blokes, one of them Spinella for a golden, and that was a huge wicket and turning point in the game.

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“He realised – simple cricket – consistent areas and let the batsmen make the mistake is the key.”

Facing his former club Upul Bandara excelled with 2-16 off seven overs, while First XI debutant, leg spinner Adam Jacklin, claimed 2-41.

Preston now sit 2-2 – percentage outside the top six – with one game before the Christmas break.

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The Bullants travel to Ivanhoe and Bramich hopes to see continued improvement.

“We showed a really good level of consistency and patience (on Saturday),” he said.

“We’ve got some improving to do, we said after the game ideally we would have chased them down in 30 overs rather than the 39th.

“There were a lot more singles on offer that we didn’t take, we could have worked the spinners more rather than try and hit over the top.”