Emilio Gay helps new side Geelong to victory after dominant opening stand

Emilio Gay spent one week at Geelong training before making his debut for the premier side, top scoring and helping the Cats to victory against St Kilda.

Emilio Gay had no issues making runs on debut for Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

New Geelong opener Emilio Gay is locked in at the top of the order after a debut to remember, top scoring in a crucial four-run win against St Kilda.

Gay opened the batting, scoring a chanceless 52 off 50 balls to help the Cats to 8-251 off their 50 overs.

The new Cat will only be available for the next two months but Geelong coach Nick Speak the new recruit slotted seamlessly into his opening role.

Emilio Gay was a star import at Bell Post Hill. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“He didn’t give a chance, he didn’t take a risk but he scored a run a ball,” he said.

“He was very solid and he looked like he was going to make plenty, I don’t think he got the best decision but he was good.

“Emilio trained with us on Tuesday and said he had to go home at the end of February, but he trained Tuesday and Thursday and we picked him.

“He spent a full season in county championships division one last year opening the batting, what’s he going to do, bat five?

“We don’t want to change that around, he’ll open the batting for us.”

A former Bell Post Hill star import, Gay had a strong County Cricket season last year with Northamptonshire, belting 805 runs at 33.

After Gay fell, a crucial 66-run stand between Dom McGlinchey (44 not out) and Brody Couch (40) got the Cats to a competitive total.

In reply, St Kilda’s opening stand of 79 gave the visitors a chance at chasing the big target, but Geelong took 7-43 to turn the game.

Dom McGlinchey did it with bat and ball. Picture: Mark Wilson

McGlinchey produced with the ball and took 4-53, with Couch chipping in with 2-48 as St Kilda fell just short, ending its innings on 9-247.

Speak said the pressure from the bowling attack gave the Cats a chance of defending the total.

“We created pressure, I thought we bowled pretty well throughout the innings,” he said.

“Even though they didn’t have wicket pressure being only two down, we had a good combination of spin and pace that built the pressure through the middle.

“Then (Dom) McGlinchey came back and got two wickets in an over, getting (Adam) Crosthwaite was a key wicket for us because he was batting well, then he got Russ.

“Once you’ve got two new batters in it’s a different game, the wicket wasn’t as great as the scores say, it was low and slow and it was difficult for new batters coming in.

“It was a good win, and one we really needed to have as well, I don’t think we can really afford to drop another game or two on the run home.”

The win elevates Geelong to 12th on the Premier Cricket ladder, two wins behind Ringwood in eighth spot, with a game against bottom-team Dandenong next week.

Originally published as Emilio Gay helps new side Geelong to victory after dominant opening stand