Bill West
The McIntyre Cup clash between unbeaten Gisborne and finals aspirant Romsey produced a Saturday afternoon where bowlers were dominant. Altogether 92 overs were sent down, 13 wickets fell, and only 167 runs were scored.
The Dragons’ attack never allowed the Redbacks off the hook, and Gisborne now needs 102 runs with seven wickets in hand when the two-day contest resumes.
It was inexplicable to see Romsey batters so tied down, but the quartet of Leigh Brennan, Riley and Jarryd Vernon, and Mick Allen, were miserly with the ball.
Master batsmen Ben Way (Romsey) and Jarryd Vernon (Gisborne) were coming off scores of 134 not out and 178 respectively, and this time both failed.
Way opened, and was trapped leg before wicket by Brennan for five, while late in the day Vernon came to the wicket, faced 12 balls and hit two fours and a lusty pull shot six, which dented a spectators’ car before being caught for 17.
Romsey’s inability to break the shackles was apparent when opener Taylor Stevenson faced 94 balls for just nine runs before being run out; Tim Dale made 29 in the middle order and Chris Burkett 27, while Brennan’s 3-24 included the prize wickets of Way and Dale in a disappointing score of 134 from 76 overs.
A week earlier Romsey scored 6/268 in a one-day match on the same ground against Wallan!
Allen collected 3-45 and along with Brennan and Riley Vernon, awaits a stint at the crease with Gisborne to resume at 3/33 from 16 overs.
Romsey did well to claim three wickets before stumps, with the bowled dismissal of Harry Luxmoore triggering plenty of dissension. A live-streaming film was enough to continue the talking point.
Chris Marienfield claimed 2-7 from three overs.
Fourth-placed Romsey will need a Houdini-like performance to stave off defeat.
CENTURIES PLENTIFUL
There were a number of centuries across the grades, with three occurring in McIntyre Cup.
Talented Woodend teenager Xavier Tadd scored 110 (13 fours) and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 188 against second-placed Sunbury United with a resolute Warren Else who made 80.
The rescue mission came after Woodend lost three early wickets, and big disappointment was that the last seven wickets tumbled for the addition of just 16 runs!
United’s S. Perera collected 5-56 and the run chase resumes at 1/15.
Diggers Rest/Bulla skipper Rasika Batepola made 103 in his side’s mammoth 353 against Sunbury Kangaroos, and Bacchus Marsh opener Brenton Payne scored exactly 100 in his side’s 8/266 against Wallan.
In Johnstone Shield, Kyneton all-rounder Hayden Ingleton missed out on a century by four runs early in the season at Gisborne, but finished with a valuable 109 not out against his former club Macedon at Tony Clarke Reserve. This game hangs in the balance.
Eynesbury opener Tristan Francis hit 29 fours against Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve, and compiled 171, while adding 265 with Brandon Shearson 128 n.o. against Gisborne.
Hanging Rock captain Brandon Nicholls scored a very quick 135 and Oliver Watt 70 before declaring at 6/293 and reducing Blackwood to 6/92 by stumps. An outright on the cards for the Jensen Shield ladder leaders.
LADDERS
Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh and Hanging Rock are the current ladders leaders in the Gisborne District Cricket Association’s top three grades.
McIntyre Cup: Gisborne 62.19, Sunbury United 56.29, Bacchus Marsh 53.18, Romsey 50, Diggers Rest 42.58, Sunbury Kangaroos 34.01, Rupertswood 33.35, Wallan 25.15, East Sunbury 24.91, Woodend 24.15.
Johnstone Shield: Bacchus Marsh 57.12, Kilmore 50.56, Kyneton 45.24, Aintree 44.41, Macedon 42.29, Romsey 41.88, Sunbury United 40.32, Riddell 35.48, Eynesbury 31.88, Gisborne 21.23.
Jensen Shield: Hanging Rock 55, Rupertswood 51, Diggers Rest 45, Bacchus Marsh 39, Malmsbury 21, Wallan 21, St Anthonys 21, Sunbury Kangaroos 12, Blackwood 12.
