“It was good, it was fantastic,” Grant said of playing with Carter and Kaleb.

“My dad [Peter] was there watching. I think he was prouder than any of us.”

Grant and Kaleb even got the chance to bat together and they made the most of it.

The duo opened for Court House and knocked over the runs together.

Chasing a tick over 100 – thanks to Cameron Milne notching up a score in the 70s – Grant (62) and Kaleb (25) guided Court House to a 10-wicket win.

“Very good,” Grant said of Kaleb’s batting.

“He was just knocking the singles around and giving me the strike – he’s just come back from injury.”

Kaleb also claimed three wickets and Grant lauded the bowling brigade.

“The young kids at the club like Oscar King, they bowl very well,” Grant said.

Saturday wasn’t the first time the McIlveens had played together after previously teaming up in third grade.

Grant said the match was reminiscent of that competition.

“There was another father and sons playing [on Saturday]. Vinnie Winsor had his boys play, too, Trent and Braithen,” Grant said

“That’s what you’re starting to see now – those boys that started in third grade are coming through to play first grade. It’s a shame we lost it [third grade]. We had the kids who could play but just didn't have the parents.”

The opportunity for some of the youngsters to step up into first grade came after a number of clubs had players opt to head along to the Christmas Hams Race Day.

Gunnedah District Cricket Association president Brad Gander – who also plays for Court House – said the situation arose each year and it was a tough one to solve.

He said the season could become a touch too long with an extra bye tossed in.

“The season has just enough room to fit everything in, it is a bit of a tricky one,” Gander said.

Speaking about his team, Gander was happy with the overall bowling effort. “Kaleb got three wickets and everyone else just chipped in with wickets which was good,” Gander said.