Kyabram Cricket Club unveiled what could be a future star against Old Students in the third round of Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield competition last Saturday.
Fourteen-year-old pace bowler Anthony Evans struck telling blows with the ball as Kyabram bowled out the home side for 154 at Shepparton’s Kialla oval.
Kyabram was defending a score of 9-194 and Evans grabbed the early wickets of opener Callum McCabe for 45, emerging star Oscar Lambourn and Rehan Bari, both for ducks in the second of his first three overs to change the course of the game.
He finished with match-best figures of 4-29 off seven overs and along with bowling spearhead Jackson McLay, with 2-12 off six overs, and Jason Parsons, with 2-21 off 7.3 overs, dismissed Old Students in 39.3 overs.
Evans is a product of Kyabram Cricket Club’s junior program and bowls with a perfect action and plenty of pace.
He first showed out in a recent pre-season T20 competition when stepping up to take on some of the premier batsmen in Cricket Shepparton.
Kyabram coach Jackson McLay heaped generous praise on Evans’ stunning debut.
‘‘We were in a bit of trouble with them about 1-60 when he came on to bowl, and he changed the game with his three wickets in his second over, and they were all good batsmen,’’ he said.
McLay said Evans was a work in progress and pretty scary at under-16 level, which he also plays for Kyabram.
McLay also believes as he matures, he will improve a lot.
‘‘He’s got genuine pace and a good action, so there is plenty to work on considering he is only 14. He’s very quick for his age,“ he said.
In Saturday’s game, Kyabram’s main run-makers were Kyle Mueller and Tim Nelson, who held the innings together after the visitors were invited to bat after losing the toss.
Mueller looked on course for another blockbuster score when run out for 66.
He hit six fours and one six off 93 balls.
Nelson also knuckled down to make a valuable 40 with four fours off 83 deliveries.
Handy late knocks of 23 from Charlie McLay and 16 not out from Louis Sabbagh-Holt gave Kyabram a welcome late boost to post a final score of 9-194 off its 45 overs.
Kyabram has another winnable game this Saturday when it tackles Shepparton Youth Club United, which has yet to win a game.
New pace bowler and former Cooma cricketer Sam Langley is expected to make his debut for Kyabram in this game.
Elsewhere, Kyabram’s B-grade side came up eight runs short in its chase to reel in Numurkah’s moderate score of 9-136.
In reply, Kyabram was bowled out for 128 in 44 overs with two McDonalds, father Matthew and son Mason, top scoring with 31 and 30, respectively.
Jonathan Hipwell and spinner Alec Young were Kyabram’s only multiple wicket takers with two each, while Tom Holman, with 1-17 off nine overs, was the most economical.
Kyabram’s E-grade side rested with the general bye and will be out of action again this weekend with a domestic season bye.