MOST cricketers can go a lifetime in the game without taking a hat-trick. Matthew Wilkinson won't be one of them.
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The Strathdale-Maristians under-16 A all-rounder achieved the rare feat in Saturday's clash against Golden Square at Beischer Oval.
Thirteen-year-old Wilkinson finished with the amazing figures of 5-8 off 2.3 overs, bowling his team to their first victory of the Bendigo District Cricket Association season.
Batting first the previous week, the Suns peeled off 164 runs, before dismissing Golden Square for 64 on day two.
Wilkinson was a major player with both bat and ball, with the opener contributing a team-high 43 runs.
But it was his feat with the ball that Wilkinson will remember for the rest of his days.
Two of his victims were caught, while the first was clean-bowled.
Wilkinson, who is in his seventh year of cricket, reserved praise for his teammate Will Purcell, who took the catch in slips to help secure the hat-trick.
The medium pacer said he was surprised by his hat-trick, but was more focused on helping the Suns break through for a win.
"We have two games left, hopefully we can win those too," Wilkinson said.
It's been a hectic year for the young all-rounder, who was vice-captain the Northern Rivers team that contested the under 14 state championships in Melbourne last month, and part of Bendigo's successful under-14 Country Week team.
Wilkinson spends his Saturday afternoon’s playing alongside his father Chris in Mandurang Colts' division three team in the Emu Valley Cricket Association.
In an ironic twist, Chris' work commitments at Drummond Golf in Bendigo on Saturday morning prevented him from seeing all but three balls during the Suns' stint at the bowling crease.
Fortunately for him, they just happened to be his son's three hat-trick taking balls.
"I got there when they had just gone back on the field from drinks and then bang, bang, bang - a hat-trick," he said.
