Bill West
A new addition to Romsey’s McIntyre Cup lineup hit a blistering 167 off just 104 balls, with 24 fours and four sixes, on Saturday.
This incredible effort from Tim Dale was followed by a double hat-trick from Sunbury Kangaroos paceman Michael Fox – in the last four balls of the Redbacks’ innings he skittled the stumps of captain-coach Ben Way, Darin Jewell, Louis Moor and Jamie Taylor. All were trying to hit Fox for six!
Romsey finished on 9/320 from 45 overs, after Dale and Taylor Stevenson had put on an opening stand of 250 runs.
Dale came to live and work in the Lancefield-Romsey area pre-season, and made a ‘duck’ against Woodend in his only previous match with the Redbacks.
He has a long and impressive record with Casey South Melbourne Cricket Premier League; he turned up at an early Redbacks’ practise session and indicated he was interested in playing locally.
Way said everyone was hopeful that Dale could play in the second half of the season, and in the finals – which the club has targeted.
“There’s no doubt a quality, experienced player like this can be a real asset,” Way said.
At one stage Stevenson was on 32 and Dale 37.
Way said in a remarkable period of play, Dale showed his array of strokes by advancing to 97 while Stevenson only faced one ball.
The Romsey coach, who played with Melbourne Cricket Club, said he discovered that Dale had opened the bowling against him in a Premier League match some years ago.
“It’s great to have Tim with us at Romsey,” Way added.
Fox finished with 6-52, then scored 41 as the Kangaroos were bundled out for 116 (C. Marienfield 4-11, A. Paterson 3-28).
GISBORNE ON TOP
Unbeaten Gisborne moved to the top of the McIntyre Cup ladder with a comfortable win, and Sunbury United lost for the first time this season.
Scores: Gisborne 8/280 c.c. (Mick Allen 57, R. Vernon 51, J. Vernon 45) d East Sunbury 8/150 (L. Watson 40 – Allen 3-18, R. Vernon 2-12); Woodend 104 (W. Else 28) lost to Diggers Rest/Bulla 2/105; Rupertswood 4/139 c.c. d Wallan 138; Sunbury United 9/197 c.c. (U. Fernando 65) lost to Bacchus Marsh 3/198 (N. Strangio 86, B. Payne 57).
In Johnstone Shield, Kyneton’s Tom Boyer has a great afternoon with bat and ball.
Scores: Eynesbury 188 (C. Price 84 – Boyer 4-32, H. Ingleton 3-28) lost to Kyneton 3/189 (Boyer 93, M. Harrison 41): Romsey 7/191 c.c. (M. Richardson 55, A. Frost 50, D. Paterson 30 n.o. – W. Bobetic 3-31) lost to Macedon 5/192 (D. Trotta 82, M. Hewett 29 n.o., C. Walker 23 n.o.); Kilmore 9/204 d Riddell 91; Aintree 8/268 c.c d Gisborne 8/154.
Diggers Rest 84 (A. Warne 3-7) lost to Hanging Rock 3/87 (S. Zubrycki 30); Lancefield 7/205 c.c (H. Lehner 55, A. Sinclair 34, M. Docker 32) d St Anthonys 167 (D. Mallia- Hogan 3-7, Sinclair 3-24).
