THEY say good things come in threes and for City quick Jack McVey that rang true on Saturday.
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McVey had a memorable outing against South picking up his first hat-trick and the three best and fairest points.
They were his first for the season too, and well deserved.
He’s been arguably City’s best bowler through the first seven rounds of the competition, if not one of the form bowlers of the competition.
There wouldn’t have been many games – if any – that he hasn’t got among the wickets and City skipper Dan Whale has regularly made comment about McVey bowling well.
He was again on Saturday after City’s big 43-run win over competition front runners South Tamworth.
“Jack McVey continued his great form,” Whale said.
Defending 158, McVey gave City a start they could have only wished for, dismissing Josh Crowe, James Psarakis and Tom Groth with the first three balls of his second over.
They are seen as Souths’ three most dangerous batsmen, and in the form that Crowe and Psarakis have been in especially were big wickets.
“To get a hat-trick and get probably their three best blokes.
“It’s pretty memorable,” Whale said.
The 19- year-old was taking it all in his stride.
This is his first full season in first grade. He played a couple of fill-in games last season, but was mostly a second grader.
Now he’s leading the attack and doing it well.
“I can’t complain,” McVey said.
“I’ve been rolling through a few batting attacks, but I’ve had a lot of help from the rest of the attack.”
It’s helped too having something to bowl at.
“We’ve been getting runs on the board this season which is making it easier,” he said.
On Saturday 158 was below what they were aiming for, but after McVey cleaned up the top order, with the exception of Troy Osborne, City looked in control.
He couldn’t recall ever being on a hat-trick before and said running in for the hat-trick ball he didn’t expect it to turn out as it did.
He went on to finish with 3-14.
It’s the second time he’s taken three against Souths this season after taking 3-27 last time they met.
Psarakis was also one of his three scalps then.
McVey’s good form was rewarded this week when Tamworth selectors elevated him to the War Veterans Cup team to tackle Gunnedah at No 1 Oval on Sunday.
Another paceman got the two best and fairest points for his efforts but they were with the bat rather than the ball.
Jade Thompson’s 57 opening the innings for City saw him collect the two.
Troy Osborne received the one point after his 45.
