By JARROD POTTER
A HALF-CENTURY, player of the grand final and a state-wide premiership medallion around his neck – Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was a pretty good day for Southern Pioneers opener Zach Allen.
Allen, 17 from Narre Warren, made sure the Southern Pioneers got off to the best start in their Victorian Bushrangers U18 Male Pathway Championships grand final against the Inner South East Scorpions.
Losing fellow opener Adam Amin first ball, Allen and captain Tanner Stanton steadied the ship to post a match-defining 125-run partnership.
“It wasn’t the greatest start,” Allen said.
“We were in a bit of strife early when Adam went out first ball, but then Tanner came in and gave a captain’s speech to tell us what to do and we needed to settle down and build the partnership.”
Allen raced towards his half-century and made it in style as he smashed a hook-shot six over fine leg.
“It wasn’t too bad actually – hit a six to get it – pretty excited,” Allen said. “Over fine leg’s head for a nice hook shot.”
Allen’s knock would come to an end via a run out with him on 83, but the damage was already done as the Pioneers raced to 8/219 after 50 overs.
The bowlers carved their way through the Scorpions attack to restrict the opposition to 140, leaving the Pioneers the state champions and Allen the Player of the Match.
“Winning it (Player of the Match) really just put the icing on the cake – I wasn’t too fussed if I got it, but I was happy to celebrate with the boys and we won,” Allen said.
“Being there with the rest of the team – it wasn’t just individual efforts and we all had to get each other there, had a bit of support when I went out to bat and fielding having the other boys around you, it was too easy and really good.”
Allen has been piling on the runs all season having posted three centuries in three rounds of the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s (DDCA) under-17 competition.
A pair of Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (VSDCA) half-centuries with Endeavour Hills for the first XI highlights just how good his year has been.
“Loved making the 100 against Berwick,” Allen said.
“We’ve had a bit of a rivalry against Berwick and then it’s always been on and off that they won and we won, but to make sure that we won this time with a 100 was pretty good.”
Allen wanted to thank his parents, the Southern Pioneers team and the coaching/support staff for their help and said he couldn’t have made his runs without their backing.
