mmg.com.au

Kialla may boast a fearsome bowling attack in a decade if its junior ranks are anything to go by.

The Knights had two rising youngsters, eight-year-old Nick Mori and 13-year-old Ben Ratcliffe, take double hat-tricks in matches last weekend.

On Friday night, Mori, turning out for the Knights’ under-12s against Toolamba, claimed four consecutive wickets.

Adding to the achievement, every dismissal was bowled.

At the start of the season Mori had not even planned to play competitive cricket.

Being so young, it had been planned that he would spend the season in the development In2Cricket program.

But with the Knights battling for numbers he was called upon to join the under-12 ranks.

Mori said the secret to his success was simple.

‘‘I was just bowling medium pace and aiming for the stumps,’’ Mori said.

He has played five games this season and has already found a niche as a bowler, but admits to still enjoying wielding the willow.

Mori finished with figures of two overs, one maiden and 4-9.

A day later, Saturday morning, it was Ratcliffe who turned it on.

The leg-spinner had Katandra’s batting line-up in knots as he emulated clubmate Mori’s feat in claiming a double hat-trick. His wickets came bowled, stumped and then two caught.

The third had left the youngster’s heart in his mouth as it ricocheted off one player in the slips cordon before being caught at gully.

Ratcliffe said he remembers being shocked after claiming consecutive wickets.

‘‘I couldn’t believe I was on a hat-trick,’’ he said.

‘‘I figured the first two had worked, so I just tried to bowl the same ball that I did for those.’’

His team still couldn’t avoid defeat against the Eagles.