St Bernard’s too good for Plenty Valley in Subbies T20 opener

A masterful century from Rory Collins propels St Bernard’s past former club Plenty Valley, while a Snowdogs quick makes a strong return from injury.

Rory Colins and St Bernard’s made the perfect start to the VSDCA T20 competition on Tuesday night.

Collins smashed a brilliant century to inspire the Snowdogs to a nine-run win over his former club, Plenty Valley, at Yarrambat War Memorial Park.

The star wicketkeeper-batter bludgeoned the Bats attack, bringing up triple figures in just 52 balls, hitting nine boundaries and six sixes and finishing unbeaten on 105 from 58 deliveries.

St Bernard’s captain-coach Kyle Adams was in awe of his opener’s performance.

“Rory went out there from ball one with a lot of intent and it was a really good pitch as well that we got to play on,” Adams said.

St Bernard's batsman Rory Collins. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“He manipulated the field really well and used his feet to open up the crease and get the lengths he wanted.

“He has hasn’t had too much of a hit this year, we’ve slotted him back down to five (on Saturdays) – he had a little one and there’s been a couple of games that he just hasn’t batted.

“It’s been a tactical thing to put him at five … he wanted to bat middle order in the two-dayers so we thought we might as well do it in the one-day stuff as well.”

Guest player, Fitzroy Doncaster’s Jevon Kett added 44 in a 109-run opening stand to propel St Bernard’s to 4-163.

Plenty Valley put up a brave chase, taking the game into the finals overs before finishing 7-154.

Henry Cullen top-scored with 44 to continue his excellent season, while Naman Sharma scored 41 from 27 balls.

St Bernard’s paceman Aaron Smillie made his season debut, returning after a serious wrist injury on the eve of the season, collecting 1-34 from his four overs.

“It was good to get Aaron a blowout … to see how he goes with the wrists and he’ll look to come through the lower grades to be ready for finals,” Adams said.

Aaron Smillie in action for St Bernard's.

“We didn’t bowl – we didn’t hit out spots – as well as I would have liked.

“They’re young kids batted really well, they’ve got a lot of good kids coming through so they’ve got a bright future if they can hold onto them.

“You’re always a bit nervous when you get down to the last five overs and every result is open but we were always confident we had enough, especially with the bowlers we had left to bowl.”

St Bernard’s takes on Brunswick in the second round on Tuesday but first faces the Wicks on Saturday in a critical clash for top-six spots.

TALENTS: YOUNG GUNS FIRING IN CRAIG SHIELD

LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE

GALLERY: BEST SNAPS FROM WEEKEND’S LOCAL CRICKET

After a nine-wicket win over Port Melbourne in the first game back from the Christmas-New Year break, the Snowdogs sit in seventh place, three points behind Brunswick and Oakleigh.

The match marks the return of two-day cricket in the VSDCA for the first time since 2019-20.

Adams is looking forward to the second half run to finals.

“We’re about were I thought we’d be … we’ve had some really good performances so if we play the way we’ve been doing we’ll be alright,” he said.

“A big game against Brunswick this week and then we’ve got Elsternwick the week after, so a big couple of weeks coming up, and two-day cricket is going to be a challenge we’re looking forward to.”