Zach packs a Ponting punch

DDCA Under 12 members, from left: Dinuka Perera, Liam Hamilton, Ryan Quirk, Aiden Davitt, Jack Jessiman, Jye Driscoll – vice-captain, Mitchell Cox – captain, Cameron Scott, Zach Allen, Kirk Dickson, Brendan Marrell, Hayden Stagg, Tobias Keast and Rodney Keyaerts (coach) with the Keith Mitchell Cup.

By Stuart Teather
NARRE Warren’s Zach Allen starred at the recent Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union tournament, helping his Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) side to the under-12 Keith Mitchell Cup.
The 12-year-old dynamo was co-winner of the player of the tournament for his impressive performances with the bat and he also scooped Player of the Grand Final on the back of an unbeaten 41.
Despite his starring role in the big match, the well-spoken youngster said he did not feel any pressure.
“I just went out there with a positive mind, hoping the ball would go my way,” he said.
“I took my time, got the bad balls and put them away – I hit seven fours and all of them were on the ground.”
The tournament sees the best of the best pitted against each other, with representative sides from Melbourne’s various cricketing leagues fighting it out for the Keith Mitchell Shield and Cup trophies.
In a field of 16 teams, the top nine teams after five rounds fight for the Shield, while the next eight contest the Cup.
The DDCA team had a slow start to the tournament, dropping its first three games and resigning it to 11th spot on the ladder.
But from then on the boys won five on the trot and Allen played no small part in the victories.
In the final two Shield games, he hit 40 not-out and 55 not-out, then scored 28, 32 and 41 not-out in the three Cup finals.
Coach Rodney Keyaerts said the young batsman improved as the tournament went on.
“He certainly gathered momentum throughout the carnival,” he said.
“By the end of it, he was batting very well.”
“He’s only a little fella, but he pushes the ball around and he’s got quite a good temperament and he hit the ball quite well and quite hard for his size.”
With his style it comes as little surprise that Allen lists Ricky Ponting as his favourite cricketer.
But as a Ricky Ponting fan – how is his pull shot?
“Pretty good actually,” he said.
“I haven’t quite got that front-foot hook shot yet, I’m more on the back foot because I’m not the tallest kid in the world.”