Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Gilkes made an immediate impact in his first home game in South Australian colours, falling just three runs short of his maiden century as the hosts posted a big One-Day Cup total against Tasmania on Wednesday.
Playing in his first match at home since joining South Australia from New South Wales in the off-season, Gilkes top-scored for SA, scoring 97 from 65 deliveries to help South Australia post a commanding 383 from its 50 overs.
“It was a nice wicket. Just felt like the ball was flying off the bat all day,” Gilkes said.
Jake Fraser-McGurk gave South Australia a strong start, scoring 88 from just 47 balls, including six sixes, before Gilkes joined Jake Weatherald at the crease.
The pair combined to form a partnership of 102 in just under 13 overs.
“We sort of spoke about where we were at that point of the game, and we just knew that we had to take it that little bit deeper to sort of have those wickets at the back end,” Gilkes said.
“We were just thinking, there's good cricket shots, it felt like if you just hit it hard, and beat the boundary guys by 10 metres either side, you could get a boundary.”
Gilkes unbeaten 97 was one of several big contributions with the bat, with South Australia producing a strong team effort to deliver a competitive total.
When attention turned to defending the total, Gilkes said his side's ability to take wickets at crucial times proved important.
“We knew that runs were always going to flow. They were going to come pretty hard, so to be able to constantly take some wickets, I think that was probably the key for us,” Gilkes said.
The dominant performance for Gilkes marks a promising start to life in South Australia, but for now, his focus is on continuing to develop and earning his place in the team.
“I'm just trying to keep improving as a cricketer,” he said.
“I've come down here looking to improve… so hopefully, I'll just nail my spot in the team and try and play some match winning innings”.
South Australia will take on Victoria at Junction Oval on October 12 in their next One-Day Cup fixture.