Underdogs Macedon showed plenty of resilience to stave off Gisborne’s desperate efforts to win their round 12 McIntyre 1sts match at Gardiner Reserve on Saturday.
Rain was Macedon’s initial saviour, with more than half an hour’s play lost, then several of the the Cats’ younger batters “dug in” and at stumps the score was 9/169 in reply to Gisborne’s massive 341 — a drawn match with implications for final four positions.
Youngster Zac Waddington scored a patient half century, and all-rounder Ed Ferguson was unbeaten on 33 after finishing in a tense match-saving stand with number 11 Darcy Doyle.
Pacemen Leigh Brennan 4-44 and Josh Wills 3-54 each sent down 21 overs for the Dragons.
Late in the innings three wickets fell for the addition of just one run, and the atmosphere was near electric.
Reigning premier Gisborne needed the six points, and the big beneficiary from the unexpected draw was ladder-leader Woodend, who outclassed Sunbury Kangaroos.
Chasing a meagre 129, Woodend scored 311 with coach Josh Eastley leading the way with 116, then gained bonus points as well.
ROMSEY GO DOWN
Romsey batters found the task of overhauling Sunbury United’s mammoth 361 too great at Langama Park in another important match.
It was a stalemate early with no wickets and not many runs; opener Matthew Milne made a steady 50 but United struck a big blow by dismissing captain Ben Way for 28. Corey Day was run out at an inopportune time.
A seventh-wicket stand between Chris Burkett, who made 102, and Adam Frost 55, added 140 to revive hopes of a flurry of runs.
Alas, Sunbury skipper Damien Edwards who made 110 n.o the first day, removed Burkett and Frost and the innings folded with the last wicket falling in the 79th over. All out for 319.
In the remaining match Rupertswood rocketed into third place with a percentage-boosting victory over Broadford.
Current ladders (with two rounds remaining): Woodend 78.9 points, Gisborne 71.8, Rupertswood 66.1, Romsey 66.0, Sunbury United 60.5, Macedon 39.6, Broadford 35.6, Sunbury Kangaroos 23.3.
McIntyre 1sts matches over the next two Saturdays are Rupertswood v Woodend, Macedon v Sunbury United, Sunbury kangaroos v Gisborne, Broadford v Romey.
