Wickets galore: Upwey-Tecoma's Sam Waters took six wickets against Belgrave on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
TEENAGE leg-spinner Aaron Cross didn't know what hit him when he took his first wicket of his senior career in the FTGDCA Norm Reeves Shield on Saturday.
The 15 year old took a wicket with the second ball of his debut when he had Belgrave batsmen Ben Carnell caught at first slip.
The Tigers were defending their day one total of 278 and bowled out the Magpies for 133.
Tigers playing coach Matt Mulcahy said the promising teenager made an impressive start when his standard leg spinner caught the edge of Carnell's bat.
"It wasn't the ball of the century but we will take it," he joked. "Aaron has a good head on his shoulders and good control and variation. His dad was one of the best bowlers the competition has seen and Aaron has made a good start."
Cross is the son of long-time FTGDCA fast bowler Shane Cross and the debutant ended the day with 2-30.
Mulcahy said Tigers captain Sam Taylor had made sure his players were ready to celebrate with vigour should the young spinner get his first wicket.
"Sam worded all the boys up to celebrate if he got a wicket. I don't think he [Cross] knew what hit him," he said.
"Carnell is a very good player so he's a good first wicket to get."
While Cross caught plenty of attention, Tigers opening bowler Sam Waters burned through the remainder of the Magpies taking 6-39.
"Waters was sensational," Mulcahy said.
"He didn't have the greatest year last year but he has had a brilliant start and he is vice-captain this year as well so he is stepping up for us."
Waters took three more wickets in the Tigers' one-day win over Knox Gardens on Sunday to make it nine wickets for the weekend.
In other matches on Saturday, Eildon Park took first innings points over Ferntree Gully last week but failed to take outright points. Batting on from 5-76, the Panthers innings came to an end at 146, with Matthew Sutherland top-scoring with 33. In their second dig, the Blues finished the day on 8-111, Michael Sinclair doing much of the damage for the Panthers by taking three wickets. While the Panthers were happy to take the points, the Blues were disappointed with their efforts.
Upper Ferntree Gully successfully chased down The Basin's score of 179.
The Kings began the day at 1-19 and lost only a further four wickets to take the points.
Dean Roberts (74 not out) and Jay Colee (40 not out) guided the Kings to victory.
Footballers' Ben Rawlings (50) and Luke McComb (40) gave their all in an attempt to get the Griffens home against Knox Gardens.
But it was the newly promoted Falcons who took the points as Footballers fell 106 runs short.
Johnson Park managed to restrict the Knoxfield Knights to 165 to snag the points in the annual Mark Paffett Memorial Shield game.
In Decoite Shield, Mountain Gate defeated Monbulk, South Belgrave's 312 proved too much for St Johns Tecoma and Lysterfield secured the points over Rowville.