Romania’s Pavel Florin draws huge crowd in memorable debut for Melbourne’s Surrey Hills Cricket Club

Internet sensation Pavel Florin made his Australian cricket debut in a D Grade match on Sunday. But it was A Grade entertainment for the throng of fans who turned out to watch the Romanian’s first game for Surrey Hills.

Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin prior to Sunday’s appearance for Surrey Hills Picture: Mark Dadswell

Pavel Florin made his long-awaited debut on Australian soil when he padded up for Surrey Hills against Monash University in a Mercantile Cricket Association D South clash on Sunday.

And it’s fair to say Surrey Park hasn’t seen a day like it.

Surrey Hills president Mal Campbell said after the uncertainty surrounding Florin’s visa application, it was thrilling to have their guest playing in front of a massive crowd at the Box Hill venue.

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“We got over the hurdles and it was a really great day.” he said.

“He’s the most humble and genuine person I’ve ever met. He refuses to take any money for any appearance he does. He doesn’t think that’s right.

“He’s just a humble person and he just loves his cricket so much.

“He’s starting another couple of teams (back in Romania), which is great for the sport.

“We had four or five 12-year-old kids playing and they were just so excited that they got to play with a celebrity.

“And he was just so good with them.”

Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin with club president Mal Campbell and young teammate Ben Andrew. Picture: Mark Dadswell

The majority of the crowd had come to see the 40-year-old full-time bodyguard and part-time slow bowler roll his arm over after footage of him bowling in a European Cricket League game earlier this year had made him an internet favourite.

But the eager throng was forced to wait a little longer after Surrey Hills lost the toss and were sent to the crease first.

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Florin, coming in at No. 6, made three before being bowled by Monash Uni skipper Stephen Pearson as Surrey posted 155 from 42.4 overs.

As Surrey Hills set about defending its total, Florin was thrown the ball and took 1-31 off his eight overs with three maidens.

Haloo Sam!! :) pic.twitter.com/QIw7Am6rZS

— Pavel Florin (@PavelFlorin13) November 19, 2019

When he trapped Matt Sweeney LBW, the crowd exploded like it was a Shane Warne hat-trick on Boxing Day.

“The crowd waited all day for that,” Campbell said.

“They wanted to see him take that wicket. Every time he went close, everyone was just up.”

Unfortunately, the visitors edged to a win with four balls remaining and two wickets left in the sheds.

Pavel Florin with his teammates on Sunday. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Monash University skipper Stephen Pearson said it had been a remarkable day to be part of.

“It was very entertaining,” he said.

“There was a massive crowd for a D Grade game.

“He was amazingly positive all game. Surrey Hills has a lot of kids and he really got around them, encouraging and supporting them.

“He was such a good bloke, such passion for the game.”

My first wicket in Australia!!
Unfortunately we lost to 2 wickets after a close match
My score: batting 3 runs
Bowling 31 runs in 8 over 1 wicket and 1 catch 3 maiden overs
The first time when i bowling maiden over
The firs time when i play 45 over@AnnieChave is your wicket :) pic.twitter.com/vllYmwua5m

— Pavel Florin (@PavelFlorin13) November 17, 2019

And, any guilt for skittling the guest of honour?

“We’d dropped him when he was 0, so I thought we'd given him enough charity,” Pearson laughed. “We had to spoil the party.

“And poor Matt Sweeney, that video has gone viral. He’s still adamant the reverse sweep was on. If he'd got an edge it would have gone through (for four).”

Florin will make a number of public appearances during the week before returning to Surrey Hills for games on Saturday and Sunday.

Pavel Florin warms up in the nets before the match got underway Picture: Mark Dadswell

Mercantile Cricket Association D South

Surrey Hills v Monash University

Surrey Park (Sunday, November 17)

SURREY HILLS

First Innings

S Davies lbw b M Mohideen 3

D Fodor not out 67

TJ Cundall c SR Pearson b CJ Bird 20

JD Rodwell lbw b SR Pearson 19

B Andrew c M Vairavanathan b SR Pearson 0

P Florin b SR Pearson 3

D Close lbw b SR Pearson 5

OM Maddison b DA Harrison 1

D Wu run out (M Sweeney, SR Pearson) 0

M Hilton caught b M Mohideen 22

C Kinsella b M Mohideen 0

F Ali

Extras (nb 1, w 5, b 5, lb 4) 15

Total 155

Overs 42.4

Fall: 14 (S Davies) 42 (TJ Cundall) 88 (JD Rodwell) 88 (B Andrew) 94 (P Florin) 100 (D Close) 107 (OM Maddison) 107 (D Wu) 149 (M Hilton) 155 (C Kinsella)

Bowling: DA Harrison 9-5-1-21 M Mohideen 8.4-1-3-31 CJ Bird 5-0-1-22 A de Silva 5-0-0-11 I Joshi 7-1-0-27 SR Pearson 8-0-4-34

MONASH UNIVERSITY

First Innings

I Joshi c OM Maddison b S Davies 46

T Warner b D Close 5

G Lewis c OM Maddison b S Davies 21

M Sweeney lbw b P Florin 18

M Vairavanathan c F Ali b C Kinsella 29

A Solaiappan lbw b C Kinsella 4

N Blackmore b C Kinsella 9

M Mohideen not out 4

A de Silva c P Florin b D Close 0

SR Pearson not out 5

CJ Bird

DA Harrison

Extras (nb 7, w 1, b 8, lb 0) 16

TOTAL 8-157

Overs 39.2

Fall: 40 (T Warner) 67 (I Joshi) 90 (G Lewis) 111 (M Sweeney) 139 (A Solaiappan) 144 (M Vairavanathan) 148 (N Blackmore) 149 (A de Silva)

Bowling: P Florin 8-3-1-31 OM Maddison 3-0-0-16 F Ali 6-1-0-19 D Close 6-0-2-14 M Hilton 3-0-0-11 D Wu 4-0-0-18 S Davies 5-0-2-16 TJ Cundall 2-0-0-16 C Kinsella 3-0-0-39