VTCA 2020-21: Trent Lawford hammers 12 sixes in century for Yarraville Club

One of Yarraville Club’s stars had no trouble finding the middle of the bat in posting a powerful century in the VTCA.

A familiar sight: Trent Lawford launches another six for Yarraville Club on Saturday. Picture: Steve Tanner

It’s season 10 of the Big Bash League, and Trent Lawford bashed Haig Fawkner’s attack to all parts of Hansen Reserve on Saturday in an imperious performance worthy of a perfect 10.

Yarraville Club’s Lawford, who played seven first-class matches for South Australia and made 10 appearances for Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades in the Twenty20 competition, clubbed a dozen sixes in the extraordinary blitz in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.

Lawford hammered a rapid 121 from just 64 deliveries in the Clubbers’ 19-run victory over Haig Fawkner and issued an ominous warning to rival sides.

Arriving at the crease with Yarraville Club 2-43 in the Senior Division clash, Lawford put the visitors to the sword at Hansen Reserve in muscling 12 maximums and four boundaries.

The knock lifted Yarraville Club to 9-245 from its 40 overs as it prevailed by 19 runs.

Captain-coach Mitch Johnstone, who was sidelined because of a groin injury, said Lawford’s exhibition featured “some of the cleanest hitting I’ve ever seen”.

The Ryder medallist had posted scores of 4, 0, 72 and 0 (in a Twenty20 game) before monstering Haig Fawkner’s attack.

Trent Lawford was in commanding form for Yarraville Club. Picture: Steve Tanner

“It was a pretty amazing display of power hitting,” Johnstone said.

“He’s had a pretty interesting run with the bat. It’s been a real feast or famine.

“But one thing we’ve just focused on with Trent is if he can get to 15 balls and just negotiate that first little phase of his innings, he’s pretty hard to get out.

“It’s a matter of him being really selective and giving himself that time because we know he can catch up but more importantly race right ahead with his strike rate. He’s played enough cricket to know that anyway.

“Once he gets through that phase, he starts to hit his straps pretty quickly.

“Just his footwork for a big guy, to get right forward or right back, he’s really quick to get into position. It allows him to get into a really good position to strike the ball.”

Lawford joined the Clubbers in 2019-20 and finished the campaign with 238 runs.

With 10 matches remaining, he is poised to comfortably top that tally this season.

Lawford has taken on a big workload in taking up a position at No.4 in addition to his role as his team’s spearhead with the ball after Yarraville Club waved goodbye to some key personnel over the off-season.

“I think that extra year of getting familiar with the wickets at this level is also benefiting him too,” Johnstone said.

“Obviously everyone’s coming off lesser preparation with COVID and training and everything.

“We’re definitely trying to milk everything out of him that we can.

“I think the one-dayers suit him. That said, he likes to bowl long spells as well … he doesn’t shy away from hard work.

“But just with that increased responsibility with the bat, it just means the one-dayers are probably a good thing this year.”

Lawford was well-supported by No.3 Chris Martin (34 from 53 balls) and No.5 Ashley Sweet (26 from 27).

Ash Sweet on the move for Yarraville Club. Picture: Steve Tanner

Haig Fawkner made the Clubbers work hard to secure the points, bowled out for 226 in 39 overs.

Spinners James Damjanovski (3-36) and Jedidiah Kanagasabapathy (3-39), while pacemen Sweet (2-34) and Lawford (1-34) also impressed.

Kanagasabapathy went through Haig Fawkner’s middle order and grabbed the key scalp of Viraj Lakshitha (76).

“It’s his first First XI game at any level for four years,” Johnstone said.

“The idea was he was going to be a bit of a like-for-like replacement with me with his finger spinners and batting (in the middle order). He did a great job on debut for the club.”

Johnstone said he was unsure if he would be fit to return for next weekend’s grand final rematch against St Albans.