Grassmere medium pacer Ben Small with the cricket ball that helped him to a hat-trick in last Saturday’s A grade game against Yambuk.
BEN Small isn’t likely to buy a lotto ticket any time soon — he reckons he’s used up all his good luck.
The Grassmere medium pacer picked up a hat-trick in Saturday’s Grassmere Cricket Association A grade game against Yambuk before finishing with career-best figures of 5-14 off eight overs.
It was the first time the 31-year-old, who started his career in mini colts, had celebrated a hat-trick.
“I was half-confident with the hat-trick ball because they were just coming out all right,” he said.
“They don’t normally come out as planned. I guess I had a bit of confidence.”
Small said he was still struggling to comprehend his achievement.
“Last season I thought I bowled pretty well but I wasn’t getting wickets.
“I bowled well the first week (this season) and didn’t get a wicket. It’s funny how it goes. It’s all come in one go.
“Next week I probably won’t get a wicket.”
The hat-trick came in his second over after having been introduced to the attack to bowl downwind first-change.
He had Yambuk captain Tim Bryce playing a ball on to his stumps with his third ball of the over, then had Kym Eagleson caught behind by veteran Peter Sedgley for a duck before deceiving Jethro Serle with a ball that clean-bowled him.
“I’m a pretty modest bloke but I did celebrate,” he said.
“Everyone was fielding close in and they just grabbed me.”
Small, who started his career as a junior at Warrnambool club Nestles, played colts at Wesley-CBC before joining senior ranks where he played both division one and three.
He left the area for a few years and when he returned his mate Craig Spikin convinced him to join Grassmere five years ago.
While he got the spoils on Saturday, Spikin took a five-wicket haul the week before.
“We’ve got a good bunch of lads and everyone gets along,” he said.
“We made the semi-final last year and nearly got over the line. Hopefully we can go further this season.”
As for Small’s goals in Saturday’s match against Wangoom Roosters, he said he would maintain his aim. “I just try and bowl it on the spot.”
That’s if he plays.
“I might just retire,” he laughed.
grbest@standard.fairfax.com.au