By JARROD POTTER
STRIDING out onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday, Berwick cricketer Tanner Stanton fulfilled a childhood dream.
Stanton, who turned 18 today (Wednesday), from Berwick, captained the Southern Pioneers onto the MCG and helped the team win the Victorian Bushrangers U18 Male State Championships with a 79-run victory.
“It was a really good team effort and pretty stoked about it to be honest,” Stanton said.
“I was obviously pretty excited – it’s everyone’s childhood dream to play on the MCG as a cricketer so that was the main thing, but mainly settling the nerves and playing well as a side were the things I was thinking about heading into the game.”
He had no time to settle the nerves as the number-three batsman was due at the crease for the second ball – after opening Adam Amin was dismissed on the first ball. Stanton and opener Zach Allen, from Endeavour Hills Cricket Club, piled on 125 for the second wicket to seize an opportunity and turn the tables on the opposing Inner South East Scorpions.
The Berwick all-rounder fell two shy of his half-century on 48, after feathering a shot through to the Scorpions’ keeper, but by then his job with the bat was completed as the Pioneers went on to make 8/219 from their 50 overs.
“It was pretty good – I was in at three and our opening batsman was out first ball so I didn’t have much time to have a look and was straight out there,” Stanton said.
“But after we got the first four or five overs it was about settling and consolidating and building the partnership from there.
“Zach was good to bat with and we were lucky enough to put on 125 which put us in a really good position.”
Add to the success a pair of wickets with his leg-spin and it summed up the best day in Stanton’s cricket history and one he won’t forget as he led the side to the state-wide title.
“Good performance and nice to play well in a big game like that – bowled them for 140 after 39 overs which was pretty handy and I got two wickets myself which was pretty good,” Stanton said.
“Obviously very privileged to be given the role as captain and took it in my stride to do the best I could for my side.
“Flick the ball around, make the right changes at the right time and especially in a grand final like that have your plans cemented before the game.
“It’s all about preparation and it was a fantastic honour to be a captain on the MCG in a grand final.”
Stanton was also part of the DDCA’s Neil Wright Shield winning under-21 team that defeated the Eastern Cricket Association two weeks ago to make it two state-wide premierships in two successive Sundays… a fantastic early 18th birthday present.
