Guild St Mary’s batter Justin Larkins hits 69-ball 114 against North Shore in GCA4
An off-season spent playing in a local T20 winter competition has given an explosive opener the perfect start to the summer.
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A winter spent playing local T20 games has provided an explosive Guild St Mary’s batter the perfect launching pad into summer.
Opening batter Justin Larkins, 50, belted a 69-ball 114 against his former team of North Shore at Frier Reserve on Saturday, hitting 13 boundaries and clearing the pickets on seven occasions.
It came after Larkins scratched around for two runs off his first 20 deliveries or so, with his side struggling at 3/37 early.
“It was a bit slow at first,” Larkins told the Geelong Advertiser.
“And then (the pitch) sort of flattened out and I started playing a few shots.”
Larkins and teammate Tajinder “TJ” Singh would put on 146 for the fourth wicket to guide Guild to an incredible 319 off just 42 overs.
“That’s why they let me open, there’s only two (fielders) out and I can play shots,” he said.
“I played in the winter comp in the Indian league this year, I’ve already played about 30 games in 2023.
“It’s something to do during winter.
“That’s my fourth hundred this year.
“A lot of (Indian teammates) play at Guild, there’s eight in the team from Guild.
“They love it, and half of them haven’t played organised cricket before, but they’re just natural freaks.
“They play shots I’ve never seen before.”
Larkins, who joined Guild in 2007 but started his cricket career in the under-14s, also plays in an over 50s competition for Geelong.
“That’s a lot of fun, there’s no carrying on,” he said.
“I’m the baby in that, I’m the one they make run around the ground and field (laughs),
because some of them are pushing 60.”
Larkins said he was in mint condition for a 50-year-old.
“I’m feeling real good, but I was a bit sore Sunday, it was the first game back,” he said.
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