David Hussey drew a big crowd to the Buckley Ridges-Springvale South Twenty20 clash at Park Oval
IT seemed half of Dandenong turned up to watch former international David Hussey bat for Buckley Ridges at Park Oval last night.
Cars occupied most of Pultney St, with the wiser heads among the crowd, mindful of Hussey’s hitting power and range, parking well clear of a picturesque ground so small it is often referred to as The Postage Stamp.
But windscreens, bonnets and panels were spared the Hussey blade, as were the Springvale South bowlers in the Dandenong association Twenty20 match.
The ex-Bushrangers champion came in at No 4 and opened his scoring with a creamy cover drive to the boundary. Four singles later he holed out to Nathan King at mid-on off the bowling of young left-arm spinner Brayden Sharp.
And as he headed for the pavilion, much of the crowd headed for home.
Buckley Ridges, chasing 8-153, was in a little bother at that stage, having also lost Nottinghamshire batsman Steve Mullaney (2) and club great Daniel Watson (30).
But big Luke Fletcher, like Hussey and Mullaney a Notts staffer, packed three sixes into his 30, Troy Aust nudged 31 and Suren Ekanayake nailed 31, and in the end the Bucks reached 6-157 off 18.2 overs.
For Springy South, Dandenong batsman Ryan Quirk, listed as the marquee player for his junior club, hit 81 off 54 balls, with 7 fours and 3 sixes. It was no surprise he topped the scoring; earlier in the day he’d been named in the Victorian Metro Under 19 team.
After the match the affable Hussey signed autographs, posed for pictures and shook every hand put in front of him.
He will be back at Pultney St next Wednesday, when Buckley Ridges plays Lynbrook in the next round of the Twenty20 competition.