Bill West
Several top batsmen in McIntyre Cup cricket have already signalled that bowlers are in for a tough time this season. That’s the obvious message with two one-day rounds played, after the first four scheduled rounds were abandoned due to excessive rain.
Gisborne skipper Jarryd Vernon has scored 156 runs without being dismissed in successive Saturdays, as well as taking six wickets. Surely six votes already in the Sullivan Medal voting.
On Saturday, Vernon rattled up an unbeaten 81 (12 fours, one six) from just 60 deliveries as his side reached 1/135 in reply to 133 (Vernon 4-18, Mick Allen 4-25). Riley Vernon chipped in with 39 not out for the Dragons.
This weekend the Woodend versus Gisborne match at Gilbert Gordon Oval sees the home side having to find a way to dismiss Jarryd Vernon cheaply, and Allen and Leigh Brennan as well.
The Woodsmen bounced back from a loss against Romsey by accounting for Wallan by 40 runs at Greenhill Reserve.
Quality opener Marcus Steward scored 80 to go with his 47 against Romsey, Warren Else 30 and Harry Lawson 28 as Woodend compiled 6/190 c.c.
A blazing 80 from Keiran Aiken threatened to derail Woodend before he was bowled by Hamish McIntosh, and the Magpies wilted to be out for 150 with Lawson collecting four wickets.
Sunbury United’s Liam Sherlock is another top batsmen who will be making it hard for bowlers. He made 71 to follow on his previous 67 as United reached 7/179 to overhaul Diggers Rest/Bulla’s 7/178 c.c.
Romsey captain-coach Ben Way is another target for opposition bowlers and he has yet to be dismissed this season.
This time it was allrounder Corey Day who shone for the Redbacks. Day claimed 5-17 from his nine overs and young spinner Jake East 4-28 as Rupertswood succumbed for 133.
Day made 30 and Way remained unbeaten on 29 as Romsey scored 5/118 in 29.5 overs in a tune-up for a big match at Wallan on Saturday.
In the other McIntyre Cup match Bacchus Marsh dismissed East Sunbury for 98 and replied with 5/101.
CENTURY TO HOWLETT
In Johnstone Shield, Macedon opener Cameron Howlett scored 105 not out from 113 balls at Tony Clarke Reserve with the Cats posting a formidable 6/233. Tim Berzins 48 and captain Daniel Trotta 41 kept the scoreboard moving.
Gisborne was never in the hunt, being bowled out for 108.
Kyneton made 8/150 c.c. (Kyle Cordy 60, M. Harrison 41) before bundling Romsey out for a meagre 42 (N. Tunzi 5-7, Tom Boyer 3-11).
In other Johnstone Shield matches, Riddell 127 all out lost to Eynesbury 5/128, Aintree 168 lost to Sunbury United 4/174, Kilmore made 117 and Bacchus Marsh scraped home by scoring 9/118 (Josh Buttler 5-22).
In Jensen Shield, Blackwood could not field a full side and was bowled out for just 36 by Lancefield, with the Tigers rattling up 1/39 (V. McClure 29 n.o.).
Hanging Rock showed plenty of spirit to defeat Bacchus Marsh. Chasing 8/151, Hanging Rock compiled 4/156 (Liam O’Meara 55, Brandon Nicholls 37 not out to follow his unbeaten century the previous Saturday, and T.G. Place 32).
Rupertswood’s 9/160 c.c. proved too much for Malmsbury 9/106 (Quentin Kebble 47), Sunbury Kangaroos 144 lost to St Anthonys 8/147 (Z. Gilbert 62), and Wallan 9/105 c.c. lost to Diggers Rest/Bulla 5/109.
In division one, Woodend made 7/161 (captain Brett Gardner 58 not out) and restricted Trentham to 6/101.
Melton South rattled up 8/254 led by 103 from opener Saeed Bashir, and Macedon replied with 140. Joseph Barham took 3-37 and then made 34 for the Cats.
In other division one matches, Gisborne 55 lost to Rupertswood 1/59, East Sunbury bowled Kilmore out for 96 and replied with 7/100, and Aintree 124 lost to Bacchus Marsh 2/130.
At Clifford Oval, Macedon’s division two side compiled 8/142 (Malcolm Davies 40, Scott McCann 40) to defeat Rupertswood 136.
Kyneton 4/129 (Regan Williams 43, Hayden Walker 41 n.o.) defeated Malmsbury 116 (Chris Ganim 40), and Sunbury United 6/190 c.c. toppled Diggers Rest/Bulla 6/127.
Romsey 147 (Cameron Armstrong 60, Matthew Chew 25) defeated Riddell 69 (Michael Boland 29 – Aaron Ryan 3-15, Chew 3-18).
Kilmore 9/147 defeated Hanging Rock 9/131 (Peter Connor 42 n.o.) in division three.
Club North: Gisborne 5/139 (Peter Sankey 42, M. Weier 38 n.o.) d Woodend 132 at Bullengarook, and Malmsbury 86 was overhauled by Kilmore 4/87 (Chris Peggie 70) in a match played at the Lancefield No. 2 oval.
Macedon’s 2/216 c.c. was highlighted by an unbeaten century from Stephen Gray (retired) and 61 n.o. by Dale Taverna. Wallan could only score 8/78 in reply.
