Bill West
Gisborne District Cricket Association’s 10th round of McIntyre Cup matches on Saturday produced one upset, with Diggers Rest/Bulla toppling third-placed Romsey in a contest where 449 runs were scored, with three half centuries.
The resumption in perfect conditions after the Christmas – New Year break also saw several master class batting performances at different venues.
With an eye on a top two spot, Romsey looked to be on top when Diggers Rest/Bulla slumped to 4/81, only to see a fifth wicket stand of 129 runs put the Redbacks under pressure.
The home side chalked up a healthy 7/235 from 45 overs, then Romsey batters were forced behind the required run rate in the run chase.
Tim Dale, who had made 167 in the previous round, was caught for 14.
Redbacks’ captain Ben Way hammered five sixes and four fours in top scoring with 80 from 56 balls, but Diggers Rest/Bulla prevailed by 21 runs to add a new complexion to the finals race.
At Woodend, the home side began well with an opening stand of 61 against Bacchus Marsh, only to lose quick wickets. A revival followed, then the last five wickets tumbled for just 12 runs.
All out for 171, Woodend-Hesket was never in contention as James Lidgett compiled an unbeaten 100 (16 fours and two sixes) from just 76 balls in rely.
Another classy bat, Gisborne skipper Jarryd Vernon, scored an unbeaten 85 from 73 balls for the Dragons in pursuit of Wallan’s 7/187 – Bryan Vance 77 not out.
Vernon shared a big partnership with opener Willhem Mackay who compiled 57 for the unbeaten ladder leaders.
There were two centuries in the lower grades.
At Sankey Reserve, Woodend went on a scoring spree in the division one match against Gisborne, with Alistair Gray leading the way with 105, and Daniel Heaney compiling an unbeaten 86 in a tally of 6/275 – the highest score in any grade on Saturday.
Kyneton opener Stephen Burgis scored an unbeaten 104 as his side cruised to victory against Romsey in division two.
In McIntyre Cup this Saturday matches are – Romsey v Wallan, Gisborne v Woodend, East Sunbury v Diggers Rest, Sunbury United v Sunbury Kangaroos, and Bacchus Marsh v Rupertswood.
Current ladder: Gisborne 56.19, United 50.29, Bacchus Marsh 47.18, Romsey 44,00, Diggers Rest/Bulla 36.58, Kangaroos 34.01, Rupertswood 33.35, Wallan 25.15, Woodend 24.15.
CRICKET SCORES
McIntyre Cup: Diggers Rest/Bulla 7/235 c.c. (M. Sepala 73, A. Lakshan 52, I. Masssalage 51 – J. Taylor 3/30) d Romsey 9/214 (B. Way 80, T. Stevenson 49 – R. Batepola 3-32, D. Rodger 3-37); Woodend 171 (G. Matthews 44, X. Tadd 37 – I. Spiteri 3-30, R. Brown 3-34) lost to Bacchus Marsh 3/175 (J. Lidgett 100 n.o., S. Payne 41, H. MacDonald 2-26); Wallan 7/167 c.c. (B. Vance 77 n.o.) lost to Gisborne 4/191 (J. Vernon 85 n.o., W. McKay 57); Sunbury Kangaroos 168 (M. Fox 68 – L. Wilkins 4-36) d East Sunbury 164; Rupertswood 124 (S. Perera 4-14) lost to Sunbury United 8/125 (S. Fogarty 34, L. Sherlock 34 – N. Crotty 4-29).
Johnstone Shield: Gisborne 9/152 c.c. (J. Murphy 53 n.o. – B. Buttler 3-18) lost to Kilmore 2/156 (A. Lovick 88 n.o.); Bacchus Marsh 7/212 c.c. (D. Dickerson 56A. McIlwarra 43) d Macedon 127 (T. Coppin 32); Romsey 143 (A. Frost 39) d Eynesbury 86 (L. Moor 3-18); Kyneton 170 (B. Stokes 34 n.o., L. Crean 32) d Aintree 152 (N. Tunzi 4-33); Sunbury United 8/217 c.c. (J. Stancombe 3-32, Z. Paterson 3-42) d Riddell 209 (S. Dempsey 92, – S. Falzon 4-61).
Jensen Shield: Hanging Rock 186 (B. Nicholls 68, M. Ambler 46, S. Zubrinski 31) d St Anthonys 70 N. Maxwell 4-16, A. Warne 3-12); Rupertswood 7/136 c.c. d Lancefield 91; Malmsbury 125 (D. Nolte 61) lost to Wallan 6/126 (H. Lehner 46 n.o.); Sunbury Kangaroos 84 lost to Bacchus Marsh e2/86.
Division 1: Macedon 8/135 c.c. (I. Bobelic 71) lost to Aintree 1/139 (K. Singh 76, V. Sharma 47 n.o.); Woodend 6/275 c.c. (A. Gray 105, D. Heaney 86 n.o.) d Gisborne 100 (D. McDonald 4-10, J. Johnstone 4-19); Kilmore 6/153 c.c. (K. Stute 45 n.o.) d Bacchus Marsh 135 (M. Hooper 42 – B. Partridge 4-15) Melton South 132 d East Sunbury 61.
Division 2: Sunbury forfeited to Macedon; Riddell 3/147 (M. Lloyd 71, C. Karwata 36 n.o.) d Malmsbury 6/139 ( J. Murphy 37, C. Nelson 36 n.o.); Romsey 7/156 c.c. (D. Devlin 70) lost to Kyneton 1/159 (S. Burgis 104 n.o., H. Walker 33); Sunbury United 9/163 c.c. d Rupertswood 111.
