Torquay recruit Tristan Kassis hits 116 against Geelong City

Three members of the same Geelong cricketing family shared in the first eight wickets against Modewarre while a Surf Coast recruit scored his inaugural first grade century.

Bell Post Hill batter Ryan Mills edges gets one past Geelong West keeper Tony Spence Picture: Mark Wilson

Former foes have become friends in a crucial partnership as Torquay stands alone at the top of the GCA2 first grade ladder.

The Tigers snuck home by three runs on Saturday over Geelong City at Spring Creek Reserve to bank its third win of the season after four rounds.

Batting first, new recruit Tristan Kassis smashed 116 off 129 balls at the top of the list with support from Ash Russell (51) to post a competitive 233 for victory, as Byron Taylor (3-45) and Lachlan Emmett (3-39) led City’s attack.

Kassis joined the Tigers during the off-season after a lengthy and distinguished career with St Bernard’s.

Tristan Kassis made his first century for new club Torquay against Geelong City. Picture: Torquay Cricket Club.

Kassis said it was a satisfying feeling to make his maiden ton for the club, even if his right knee – which had endured three surgeries over the years – was aching a tad.

“It’s a good feeling walking off, or limping off, the ground after making a ton,” Kassis said.

“I’m seeing them well at the moment, just confident in my own game and my abilities and knowing my strengths.

“Trying to take adantage of the two (fielders) out in the first 10 overs and take it up to the opposition bowlers.”

Kassis said the switch to Torquay had been seamless so far.

“They’ve made me feel so comfortable from day one,” he said.

“They couldn’t have made me feel more welcome.

“I sort of feel like I owe it to them as well, they’ve put a lot of faith and trust in me to open the batting.

“To make sure I’m doing the job they want me to do.”

Crucially, Kassis and Russell combined for an 83-run stand for the fourth wicket, with the next highest score being Gurpreet Singh’s 15.

The pair had a healthy rivalry for many years when Russell was playing for South Caulfield and Kassis at St Bernard’s.

With five needed off the last delivery to win, the ball was hit to square leg and only a single was taken, giving the Tigers a three-run victory.

Taylor top scored with an unbeaten 74 off as many balls.

Kassis praised young bowler Mackie Miller (1-27) for holding his nerve, returning to bowl at the death after opening up the innings.

Russell (3-23) and new coach Damian O’Brien (3-43) led the attack, with all six bowlers taking at least one wicket each.

Sharks on the board in GCA3 despite Tanner Hay ton

Manifold Heights has broken through with their first win of the GCA3 first grade season, chasing down Bannockburn’s 6-251 at Caldwell Oval with two balls to spare in dying light.

New recruit Ethan Quin (75) and Matthew Pratt (63 off just 48 balls) did the bulk of the Sharks’ scoring, chasing down the target with two wickets in hand.

Earlier, Bulls gun Tanner Hay peeled off another hundred after scoring two tons last year in the same grade.

On Saturday, his 137 came off just 141 balls while Nick Pratt took 3-42.

Matthew Pratt made 63 against Bannockburn. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

Hay praised the Sharks’ batting and said his bowlers struggled to maintain a consistent line and length.

“They batted very well ... we just seemed to bowl too many boundary balls,” Hay said.

“We just never seemed to be able to put the foot on the brake.”

Hay said his side had yet to play a complete game in 2024-25, unable to chase down Modewarre’s 148 in Round 2 and conceded 282 against Marshall the following Saturday.

“Obviously it’s good to get a couple (personally), good to spend some time out in the middle especially after last week, it didn’t really all go to plan,” he said of his side’s 88-run loss to the Bears.

Tanner Hay (right) made 137 against Manifold Heights. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

“It didn’t mean as much after we lost.

“One week we’ll bowl a team out for not many, and not make the runs and then we make the runs and not bowl a team out, hopefully it’ll click soon.”

Meanwhile, an early pre-season for Hay, which began around late July, will have GCA3 bowlers on notice after making nearly 500 runs last summer.

“We had a pretty big pre-season, there were a few of us that got down to the nets once a week and had a really good bat,” he said.

“So far it seems to be working with a couple of the boys making some runs.

“We had a really good crack.”

Meanwhile, at Thomson Recreation Reserve, three members of the same family combined to take the first eight Tiger wickets on the way to a 43-run win over Modewarre — their third in a row after the Round 1 washout under new coach Zac Smith.

Xavier Dew claims the wicket of Brendan Wemyss. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

Thomson made 165 off their 50 overs (Kaine Wells 31) batting first and the Warriors were 0-51 in reply.

However, Grant Dew (4-19 off 10) and his two sons Seb (3-36) and Xavier (1-27) would up-end Modewarre’s batting order, losing 5-4 in a spectacular collapse.

Seaver Cowley (2-35) would take the last two wickets as Modewarre was dismissed for 122 (Luke Foot 41).

Newcomb & District and Meredith draw after stunning collapse

A stunning collapse of 7-15 has seen the GCA4 first grade match between Newcomb & District and Meredith end in a thrilling tie.

It follows a tie in Round 1 of GCA3 first grade between Alexander Thomson and Waurn Ponds when both teams were level on 146 runs.

Batting first at Grinter Reserve on Saturday in Round 4, the Dinos compiled 8-130 off their 45 overs with opener Anthony Quarrell top scoring with 43 while Rhys Bath chipped in with an unbeaten 26.

Jason Murray led the bowling with 3-10 off five overs.

In reply, the Rams appeared in control at 3-115 before a collapse of 7-15 as Quarrell claimed 4-5 off 5.5 overs.

The visitors lost 3-1 and then 3-2 at different stages.

However, Meredith would add six runs for the final wicket to level the scores before Quarrell had Chesney Milne caught by Bath for three at cover.

Meredith captain Tyler Dittloff said it was a disappointing collapse.

“(It was) good to still come away with some points but the game was ours to win,” Dittloff said.

“We had four of our last seven dismissals out caught trying to hit over the top.

“Hopefully our guys learn from it but when you need 15 to win from 25 overs going aerial is just another way to get out unfortunately.”

Originally published as Torquay recruit Tristan Kassis hits 116 against Geelong City