Stand-in skippers lead from front for Melbourne and Prahran

Melbourne’s Blake Thomson and Prahran’s Matt Wilcox had starring roles in their teams’ Round 3 victories.

Blake Thomson stand-in skipper Blake Thomson with First XI newcomer Campbell Kellaway after the match. Pic: Andrew Kent

Standing in as captains, Blake Thomson and Matt Wilcox stood up for their teams.

With Cameron White carrying out his Big Bash coaching duties, Thomson led Melbourne for the first time, and marked the occasion with a century that highlighted a victory against Kingston Hawthorn on Saturday.

Prahran paceman Wilcox again filled in for the injured Jake Hancock, nabbed three wickets and hit handy runs as the True Blues ran down Camberwell Magpies’ 210.

Thomson hit an even century and combined with Meyrick Buchanan for a 135-run opening partnership at the Beaumaris Secondary College ground.

The right-hander faced 145 balls and put away 8 fours.

Buchanan cracked 76 off 69 balls, an innings that sparkled with 10 boundaries.

No 3 Jack Harper made 33, but the Melbourne scorecard was heavy up top and light at the bottom: no one else hit double figures in a total of 9-247. The Hawks fought back well with the ball, with Round 2 centurymaker Abhi Jain taking 3-39 off 10 overs of offspin.

The visitors were never in it, falling for 116 off 36.5 overs.

Melbourne paceman Kieran Elliott, coming off a 36-wicket season, nabbed two wickets to put Kingston Hawthorn under immediate pressure, and finished with 4-27 off nine overs.

Jackson Koop captured 3-11 off 6.5 as the Demons walked it in to retain the Bruce Church Cup that the clubs contest.

Melbourne gave a debut to 18-year-old allrounder Campbell Kelleway, a prominent under-age player who started at East Sandringham Cricket Club. The son of former Sandringham VFA star Lachlan Kelleway was run out for nine and took 1-3 off his only over.

Prahran’s Matt Wilcox.

At Camberwell Sports Ground, Prahran had four wickets standing when it passed the Magpies’ 210.

The visitors had been 6-162 but Sashin Garber and Wilcox came through with an important partnership.

Garber’s 42 not out came off only 40 balls and had 5 fours, and Wilcox hit 23 not out off 25 deliveries, with 1 four.

The foundations for a successful chase had been set down by openers Nick Blaich (36) and Nick King (49) and No 3 Damon Egan (38).

There was a splutter through the middle, but the Garber-Wilcox partnership steadied the innings and a few nerves.

Young spinner Blake Parsons made another outstanding contribution for Prahran, taking 5-37 off his 10 overs to lift his tally to 11 from three matches.

Parsons had Maggies champion Simon Hill LBW for 47 to break his 86-run opening partnership with Rishab Guddadamane, who made 50.

Wilcox picked up wicket at the end of the innings, finishing with 3-26 off 8.4 overs.