Footscray Edgewater rookie Jonah Koch produced “something special” in his second game at Premier Cricket first XI level.
Koch put the Bulldogs in a strong position after day one against St Kilda at the Merv Hughes Oval with a remarkable 5-21 off 16 overs.
It was not the volume of the wickets or the economical way the teenager bowled that impressed Bulldogs captain Dean Russ, but the quality of batsmen he dismissed and the way he picked apart the Saints top order.
“We saw something special,” Russ told Star Weekly.
“To get the scalps he did in his second game was just exceptional and very exciting from the club’s point of view.
“It definitely puts his name up in lights.”
Koch’s victims included Rob Quiney, a long-time Victorian representative who has played for Australia at Test level and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League; Peter Handscomb, who played for Victoria and the Stars in the BBL; and Graeme Rummans, a former first-class player with Victoria and New South Wales.
Koch had already been earmarked a star of the future even before his five-wicket haul.
“We always knew he was a very good bowler,” Russ said.
“He’s in the Victorian academy but, hopefully, this will fast track him.
“Now his name is out there, the next challenge is the opposition taking more notice of him and putting a bit more work into him.”
St Kilda was restricted to 205 off 92.4 overs, reward for Russ’s gamble to bowl knowing the quality of batsmen in the Saints’ line-up.
“With the conditions and the outfield as it was, it gave us every opportunity to keep them to a manageable total and we were lucky enough to execute that,” Russ said.
“The outfield was seriously slow, a few bad balls didn’t quite get what they deserved, so it will make everyone’s bowling figures look a bit better.
“That was the conditions and that was a big part of the reason we chose to bowl first.”
After Koch removed the top five batsmen in St Kilda’s order, the rest of the bowlers feasted on the leftovers.
Pacemen Guy Walker, Hamish Winter-Irving and Lucas Dredge and slow bowlers Russ and Jeremy Hart all claimed a wicket apiece while keeping the scoring to a minimum.
The Bulldogs, eighth on the ladder, must win to preserve their place in the top eight.
“It’s cutthroat now – there are no other options for us,” Russ said.
“We’re not even contemplating not chasing those runs down.
“That’s what we’ll be focusing on … getting 206 runs, singing the song and getting the six points to keep us in the top eight.”
