Newtown & Chilwell fast bowler Noah Guida will never forget the 2024-25 Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 preliminary final.
The 20-year-old took 8/20 from 15 probing overs, including a stunning hat-trick to turn the contest completely around.
Grovedale was 0/26, but collapsed to be all out for 72 with Guida’s hat-trick including star batters Michael McNeel and Jordan Moran for first-ball ducks.
The hat-trick ball was caught by Lachie Sperling in the slips cordon, although he did juggle it. It was Guida’s first ever hat-trick.
“Thankfully he caught it,” Guida said.
“I had my heart in my mouth when the ball was in the air. I think I was meant to be taken off the over before I got Rob (Smith) and then obviously that got me another over.
“It just all happened really quickly. Thankfully I got a few wickets and they stuck with me and got a few more, which is always nice.”
Guida’s feat came after getting his wisdom teeth extracted on Tuesday and said he was “still a bit sore”.
Two Blues skipper Dylan Hodge took a wicket amid the Guida carnage.
“We had a few jokes in the changerooms about him costing me my ten-for, but I can’t expect to get ten wickets because obviously that’s just unrealistic. So it’s good that he got Josh Windus out because he’s quite a handy bat.”
Guida said this weekend’s grand final against North Geelong had everyone at the club excited.
“I think it’s about not taking the opportunity for granted,” he said.
“We’ll just train as we’ve been training, prepare the best we can and whatever happens, happens. Just stick to our game plans and hopefully just play our best cricket and win the flag. That’s the plan.”
