Young gun and champion share double century stand as South Caulfield posts 363

A South Caulfield youngster took advantage of an opportunity arising from a suspension to notch his maiden century and share a double century partnership with a champion.

Callum Hankin scored his maiden first XI century for South Caulfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

They had that look in their eyes.

At drinks on Saturday, Brad Erasmus and Callum Hankin gave an indication they were on their way to something special.

“They both just seemed locked in,’’ South stand-in captain Lewis Mildenhall said.

At 0-57, South Caulfield was off to a solid start against Murrumbeena in Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Round 5.

The runs kept coming.

Second ball of the 51st over, Hankin hit a boundary to bring up the double century partnership, but they weren’t finished.

The Hankin and Erasmus stand was worth 224, setting up South Caulfield’s hefty 8-363 at a batting friendly Princes Park.

Hankin made 131 off 173 balls — it was the 20-year-old left-hander’s maiden first XI century as he grabbed his opportunity after skipper Michael de Iacovo was suspended for a game.

Brad Erasmus.

Erasmus made 132 off 208 balls. It was his 13th century for South — and it was an innings of steely determination.

“He’s just a freak,’’ Mildenhall said.

“You almost take it for granted…that’s another one to add to the list. I could just tell…he had a slow start for him this season. But he’s very determined. He said, ‘I’m batting the 80 (overs) today’, and when he’s like that you basically can’t get him out.’’

Erasmus, 27, has about 60 centuries in all of his cricket, including back home in the UK.

“To get on a good pitch yesterday it was time to cash in,’’ he said.

“Callum batted really well, took the game on throughout. It was just great to see him go to that next level because he’s always had it but to transfer it to the middle and make a senior hundred, his first one, was a pretty special day for him.’’

Erasmus said making a century “definitely takes a lot of determination’’.

“A hundred is concentration, it’s putting it all together...it’s a funny one, you can make heaps of them but it’s still special to do it,’’ he said.

“I don’t get bored of it, I’m still hungry to make as many as I can.

“Cricket is a great leveller, one week you get a hundred, the next week you make a duck, so it’s a great leveller.’’

Mildenhall said Hankin, a South Caulfield junior, showed his class with a string of powerful cover drives.

“He’s a very talented player,’’ he said.

“His drives…through cover...he’s just really balanced. He’s a big strong lad, very powerful. I’m a traditionalist so I’m very impressed by his front foot defence. Rock solid.

It’s really important for the club. We do get quite a few new recruits but it’s really important that we balance that with giving juniors an opportunity and it’s amazing when they take that opportunity.’’

Mildenhall cracked 40 off 44 balls after going in at 2-242 in the 60th over. He said the pitch was a beauty.

“It was a flat wicket, a bit like the old South I think,’’ he said.

“It was a very nice toss to win, put it that way.’’

Meanwhile, Mervyn D’Rozario blitzed 64 at No. 7 to help Bonbeach post 305 against Bentleigh. Tom Smith (45), Oliver Peake (46) and George Thomas (34) were also in the runs. Bentleigh’s Alex Cruickshank impressed with ball, taking 5-67 off 17 overs.

Jonathan Leadbeater captured 6-50 off 28.2 overs for Beaumaris to help dismiss St Brigid’s St Louis for 190. Trae Love-Linay (59) and Liam Harris (58) shared an 87-run partnership before both falling to Leadbeater.

Mordialloc’s Harry Birkman (3-24) and Jack Plom (3-12) combined to dismiss Mentone for 141. Comrey Edeworth did best for the Tigers with 50.