Sam Harbinson’s hundred helps Northcote to thrilling win over Melbourne University

Sam Harbinson smashed his maiden Premier Cricket ton in Northcote’s thrilling win over Melbourne Uni and opens up on his international ambitions.

Sam Harbinson is bowled out

Northcote’s Sam Harbinson notched his maiden Premier Cricket century on Saturday.

As it turned out, the Dragons needed every one of those runs to hold off Melbourne University for a nail-biting six-run victory at Bill Lawry Oval.

The 28-year-old, who harbours ambitions of representing Ireland internationally,

Harbinson’s breakthrough 102 from 108 balls was a match-defining performance.

He hit 11 boundaries and four sixes in an action-packed innings, putting on a 107-run opening stand with Jonty Rushton.

“It was my first (hundred) for Northcote, so it was pretty special,” Harbinson said.

Sam Harbinson in action for University of Tasmania. Picture: Chris Kidd

“That’s the brand of cricket I like to play in the white-ball stuff, go after the bowlers, be positive and bat with freedom and I was able to do that (on Saturday).

“It’s been really good to open with Jonty, it takes the pressure off you a little bit because he scores so freely and puts the pressure back on the bowlers.

“My brand of cricket changed when I moved down to Tasmania, I had a few injuries so bowling took a bit of a back seat and got some opportunities to bat up the order.”

Harbinson left Victoria in 2020 as a bowling all-rounder but injuries saw him concentrate more on the willow than the leather in the Apple Isle.

He scored 583, 612 and 577 runs in his three seasons at University of Tasmania, hitting two centuries, earned Team of the Year honours and won a one-day and two-day premiership.

The next challenge came calling with a move to Ireland.

Harbinson represented Dublin-based club Merrion before getting a call up to provincial club Leinster Lightning, which led to Ireland Academy selection as captain.

The international stage is the dream.

Sam Harbinson celebrates a wicket for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I played in Dublin and I’ve got Irish ancestry so I’m a citizen and was playing in their domestic List A stuff, which was a lot of fun,” Harbinson said.

“It took a while to adjust to the conditions because it’s a lot different to the fast, bouncy wickets you get in Australia.

“I’m enjoying being back in Melbourne but I’m definitely going to have a crack and see how far I can take it in Ireland.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, there’s so many quality players over there … then towards the end of the season I got a call-up to go to Spain with the Ireland Academy and captained them.

“I feel like the first year over there went really well and I’d like to think I’m in the conversation for the Ireland Wolves, which is the Ireland A team but we’ll wait and see.”

For now, helping Northcote make a late charge to finals is front of mind with the win over University bringing Northcote within six points.

Rushton scored 58 and took 2-54 and Jack Lalor finished with 41 and 2-47 in his 100th First XI match as Northcote defended 5-299.

The Students came up just short, posting 8-293 with half-centuries from Fergus McKenna, Dhruv Redhu and Peter Hatzoglou.

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“There was a lot of buzz after the game, we had Jack Lalor’s 100th game so it was nice to win for him and obviously in the context of the season we needed to win that one,” Harbinson said.

“We knew Uni were going to have a crack and come out all guns blazing … I think our experience helped us win that game in the end.

“Pete Hatzoglou came out and smacked us everywhere, so he was a bit of threat but once we got him out that was the key moment.”

Northcote faces the difficult task of taking on St Kilda in a one-dayer at the Junction Oval this Saturday.