Marcellin Secures AGSV 1st XI Cricket Premiership

Marcellin Secures AGSV 1st XI Cricket Premiership in a Grand Final for the Ages!

In a season filled with determination, grit, and standout performances, the Marcellin 1st XI Cricket team etched their names into history by claiming the 2024-25 AGSV Premiership in a thrilling Grand Final against Ivanhoe. With soaring temperatures forcing a last-minute schedule change, the team adapted seamlessly, delivering a clinical performance at Chelsworth Park to secure the title.

Led by the inspirational Hayden Kenny, who capped off a record-breaking season with both bat and ball, the squad showcased incredible depth, resilience, and teamwork. Jack Allen’s five-wicket haul, a composed middle-order partnership, and a spectacular match-winning six from Hayden were just some of the highlights of a hard-fought victory. This triumph not only cements Marcellin’s dominance in AGSV cricket but also fuels their ambition for future success, with the upcoming UK tour offering another opportunity to build on this golden era
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AGSV 1st XI Cricket Grand Final

With a 40-degree forecast for the planned Saturday, some quick action and agreement from both schools’ Principals saw the Grand Final moved to the Friday prior. Game day morning at Chelsworth Park was draped in fog and dew making our warm-up a slippery affair. It was Ivanhoe who won the toss and elected to bat. 

In a nod to our spread of ages in this team, two Year 10 students – Otto Dimitriadis & Eddie Beauchamp – would open with the new ball. A full toss from Eddie to former Marcellin now Ivanhoe wicketkeeper and opening batsman Lachlan Gilligan would get ripped right at the self-proclaimed ‘best fielder in the AGSV’ Will Mitchell who took the chance cleanly for the first wicket. A couple of dropped catches off Ivanhoe’s Captain and best bat James Heaney would keep things interesting as chances were flowing. Lucas Leggio would be the next to get a breakthrough after dotting up the other opener before getting one through clean bowled for 3 from 31 balls. The slow run rate wouldn’t increase as Ivanhoe made the first drinks break after 17 overs 2/29. A couple of good overs for Ivanhoe would spark Jack Allen into action, clean bowling the two set batsmen in three balls to blow the game open. A few overs later Jack would knock over another as Ivanhoe were teetering at 5/60. Immediately after the second drinks break, Kobi Lange would draw the false shot straight back at himself for a comfortable catch. Ivanhoe would finally get a partnership going of 50 runs before Jack would get his fourth courtesy of a Charlie Pataki catch. The very next over Marcellin Captain Hayden Kenny, who was in his 15th over for just 31 runs against, claimed his first through Kobi taking another safe catch. Jack was able to take a sharp one off his own bowling to grab a five fa in a Grand Final, and an easy run out to Kobi from his own bowling finished the Ivanhoe innings in their final over 10/137, a mere two runs more than the heat affected 40-over game total from the season game in round 5. 

Our chase started with the early loss of our own wicket keeper-opening batsman Sam Hersom, edging a wide full delivery to his counterpart. Hayden Kenny would join Jordan Dickson and the two went to work steadily but surely to chip away at the meagre total. On 13 in the 13th over facing a new bowler, Jordan would attempt to sweep the quicker ball and was bowled behind his pads. Will Newman looked to be patiently settling in before flashing at a full wide delivery, caught in the slips without troubling the scorer. Charlie Pataki looked similarly ready to find his way slowly and patiently before being beaten LBW also for zero. Daniel Anderson would come and get off the mark with three twos before his defence was beaten, Marcellin faltering to 5/54 while Hayden could only look on as partners were coming and going. Enter Will Mitchell at #7 after a lean season with the bat, he would provide the partner that Hayden needed to get to work again. Together they whittled the lead down to 27 with Hayden bringing up his 50 with a simple single and surpassing the AGSV aggregate runs record without fanfare. Will would eventually be caught at mid-off for 23 from 56 balls to make the final stretch of the game take a turn back to a balance. Joined by Eddie Beauchamp, Hayden would launch a massive six 30m onto the neighbouring oval off their fastest paceman to reassert his control of the chase. Eddie lasted only a few overs before conceding his wicket caught. The safe hands of Kobi Lange then resolutely took his place at the crease as Hayden would go to work for the win, pushing with Kobi for singles, tight twos, and hitting boundaries when the opportunity provided. Four runs out from victory, Hayden called for a drink, then, fittingly facing the also-new AGSV aggregate wickets record holder, would smack a six over midwicket into the Ivanhoe student supporters to seal the premiership – the post-shot celebration almost a match of the innings itself. 

Hayden finished with 79 from 113 balls, pushing his season total to 578 at an average of 96.33, while also claiming 2nd place in the AGSV aggregate wickets for the season with 23 wickets at an average of 17.13. It is the best All-Rounder season in the AGSV 1st XI Cricket 50-over format. 

It was a massive season of growth from all involved. 

Below are the players who contributed to the 2024-25 Premiership Season playing at least one game:
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Hayden Kenny, (Captain), Jack Allen, (Vice Captain) Samuel Hersom, (Vice Captain), Daniel Anderson, Edward Beauchamp, Jordan Dickson, Otto Dimitriadis, Patrick Gleeson, Kobi Lange, Lucas Leggio, William Mitchell, Will Newman, Liam O'Connor, Charlie Pataki and Henry Paulson.

Special mention to those who trained in our 1st XI Squad:
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Joshua Lawless, Fabian Cimoli, Xavier Baldwin, Luca Stackwood-Smith, Jordan Plain, Jasper Nolan, Jack Dinneen, Matthew Grey, Luca Klaic, Lachlan Healy, Alexander Bertus, Max Stacy, Mitchell Collard, Luke Zahra and a few other sporadically.

To the additional coaches - Jesse McInnes, Zac Macciocca, and Max Bradley.

To the curators - Kevin Davis and Vaughn McClure.

To the Sports Department - Ben Reynolds, Patrick Benson and Dino Faelis.

And finally, to all the parents who supported getting their sons (and their ridiculous kit bags) to and from trainings and games, even when we ran late getting a few extra overs in.

We now move on to preparation for the Marcellin Cricket UK Tour, with Phil Kamay and Justin Abbott confirmed as the additional staff members joining the touring players departing in late June. A chance to build again and look to return to a fourth Grand Final, because I think we can win it again.

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John Diano, 1st XI Coach.

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