VSDCA 2024-25: UK slugger Rishi Patel blasts 169 in Bayswater debut

A larger-than-usual crowd filed in to watch Bayswater’s star recruit pad up for the first time on Saturday. And the headline act certainly didn’t disappoint.

VSDCA 2024-25: Rishi Patel thrilled the crowd on Saturday in his Subbies debut. Picture: BBC

Bayswater captain-coach Jason Kilby noticed “a few extra onlookers” at the ground.

“They were all there at 12.30 for the first ball,” he said.

And they were certainly treated to a spectacle.

Star UK recruit Rishi Patel made an almighty first impression in the VSDCA’s North-East group on Saturday, blasting 169 runs off 138 balls – including 22 fours and three sixes – on the way to the Waters’ 4-304 total in a 152-run win over Endeavour Hills.

Kilby opened with the first-class English batter, tipping in 51 runs as the pair combined for 123.

“We brought up the 50 partnership at about the eighth over and at that point, there’d only been one single scored,” Kilby said.

“Once he got to 50, he did not look like mistiming a ball.

“From 100 to the 169, I reckon that must’ve been in about 30 balls – it was real quick.”

The Leicestershire county slugger pulled out all the tricks – and among the spellbound crowd, Kilby laid claim to the best seat in the house.

“He was scoring 360 degrees on the ground with some amazing shots … once he was in and set, he just manipulated the field really well,” he said of Patel.

“There were some special shots that I hadn’t personally seen in Subbies cricket – he brought the 100 up with a paddle-sweep over his shoulder for two, he hit a couple of really nice reverse-sweeps through point for four that were flat and hard … they didn’t dribble to the boundary and they were going at pace.

“Then there were some really nice, classic cricket shots – they were as good as anything to see.

“He’s the ultimate professional.”

Meanwhile, Tim Emmett and Jakey Pietz spearheaded the Waters’ bowling attack, finishing with 3-31 and 3-30 off nine overs respectively.

Emmett, whose 2023-24 campaign was marred by a cardiac arrest on the field in January, had bounced back following a strong pre-season according to the coach.

“Two caught and bowled (on Saturday) … one of them he was horizontal – I think he was comparing himself to Ricky Ponting!” Kilby said of the 43-year-old.

And Pietz, aged just 15, continued to dazzle as an off-spinner after joining the club two years ago.

He started last season in the Fourth XI and finished in the seconds – but has known nothing other than the top-flight so far this year, collecting no less than three wickets each in two outings.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” Kilby said.

“He’s a bottom-ager in the Victorian under-17s set-up and he took the most wickets in the trial games with the metro vs. country in pre-season.

“His bowling’s just come on leaps and bounds … he’s done a lot of work in the Cricket Victoria academy over winter as well as our training. He’s earnt his spot … he’s going to be a super player for a long time.”

First XI heroics aside, there was plenty to celebrate for the Waters on Saturday – saluting wins across all grades – otherwise known as a ‘Baysie Day’.

“We didn’t have a ‘Baysie Day’ in my first season – and then last season it took us to Round 14 and we’ve had one in Round 2 this season,” Kilby said.

“We’ve had two ‘Baysie Days’ in the last four games we’ve played, which is fantastic.”