A RETURN to Irymple has been a few years in the making for Englishman Scott Steel, and he’s keen to make up for lost time.
The big hitting all-rounder made his maiden century for the Swallows in style on day one of of their SCA contest with Merbein, with a blistering 182 from 140 deliveries including 22 boundaries and five sixes.
Steel built on the foundation set earlier by skipper Mark Thomson, who smashed 124 from 109 deliveries, as the Swallows made 9/423 from their 80 overs.
As a teenager Steel played for Irymple during the 2017-18 campaign. when the Swallows broke a 22-year First Division premiership drought.
While the 25-year-old was ecstatic for his former club winning the SCA title again last season, he wanted to be directly involved in another flag.
“I’ve been wanting to come back for for a while but things just hadn’t quite lined up for me to do so,” he said.
“This year it all happened pretty late, I think it was about three weeks before it started when we’d locked in for me to come back, and to have my missus come over with me this time too has been great.
“It’s nice to see that most of the boys from last time are still playing, there’s probably only a few that aren’t still there.
“It was great for them to be able to win the flag last year and hopefully I can play a role in potentially going back to back.
“Hopefully I can contribute as much as possible to making that happen.”
Following his season in Sunraysia, Steel signed his first professional cricket deal with home county Durham, making his first team debut in all three formats in 2019.
After three seasons, including COVID interruptions, he took up an opportunity with Leicestershire, where he played the past three seasons.
His contract has since expired, with the all-rounder confirming he will assess further opportunities on his return to England.
After some solid starts with the bat for the Swallows this season, including 72 at better than a run a ball against Mildura West, he cashed in big time against the Magpies.
“It was pretty hot out there but was a lot of fun,” he said.
“When we were warming up we told Mark he has one job to do, which was was to win the toss and make sure we bat.
“He went out there and got 100 in a flash it seemed like, which made our job in the middle order much easier.
“The pitch was pretty decent and flat, and being a hot day we knew the longer we could keep them out there coming back for multiple spells the better it would be for us.
“It was just one of those days where things worked. I haven’t performed at my best over first few games, I’ve thrown my wicket away a couple of times but it was nice to connect with a few.”
Steel and his Irymple teammates will resume their contest with Merbein at 1pm Saturday at Chaffey Park.
