Big partnerships by in-form Woodend and Gisborne batsmen highlighted the fourth round of McIntyre Cup 1sts matches on Saturday.
Woodend openers Harry Lawson and Marcus Stewart put on 151 before Macedon’s bowlers could break through, and the Vernon brothers continued to terrorise bowlers with a quick-fire 140 runs for the second wicket against Sunbury Kangaroos.
Reigning premiers Romsey, with skipper Ben Way producing a masterful innings of 87, kept their unbeaten record intact in a replay of last season’s grand final against Sunbury United.
Lawson dominated Woodend’s opening stand against Macedon and seemed set for a century, before being dismissed for 91 (three sixes, nine fours).
Captain Stewart went on to compile 80 and Dan Eastley contributed 44 in a healthy tally of 4/263 c.c.
Macedon was never in the hunt, reaching 7/195 with coach Tim Berzins making a fine 75.
Gisborne took just 33.1 overs to overhaul the 7/218 c.c. put up by the Kangaroos.
Riley Vernon followed up his 109 the previous Saturday with a run-a-ball 94, sharing a 151 second-wicket stand with captain Jarryd Vernon who hammered 59 from 46 deliveries.
Gisborne lost just three wickets, and rank as the logical flag favourites again.
Opposition bowlers have the difficult task of working out how to dismiss the Vernon brothers cheaply.
Romsey has not peaked yet, and Way is pleased with the contributions coming from different players.
He shared a vital 70-run stand with Aaron Paterson to lift the Redbacks to 8/219 c.c. after they were a shaky 3/28 at one stage.
While the consistent Damien Edwards made 78 and captain Upul Fernando 38, Romsey won by 26 runs with Chris Marienfeld claiming 4-36.
The highest score of the day came in Johnstone Shield 1sts, with Wallan’s Bryan Vance compiling an unbeaten 123 against Aintree.
Another big partnership occurred as opener Michael Day scored an unbeaten 95 and shared a sixth-wicket stand of 101 with Michael Boland to rescue Riddell from a precarious position against Broadford in Johnstone Shield 2nds.
Stephen Gray scored an unbeaten 117 for Macedon on the Clifford Oval against Diggers Rest/Bulla in Jensen 2nds.
Wallan’s Ben McCarthy scored an unbeaten 102 against Gisborne in the same grade.
Hugh Fitzpatrick scored 95 for Trentham, but it was not enough to keep Melton South at bay in a tight finish.
Malmsbury’s two teams worked hard to defeat respective opponents Lancefield and Riddell.
McIntyre 1sts ladder positions after four rounds are:
Gisborne 24 points, Romsey 24, Woodend 18, Sunbury United 12, Sunbury Kangaroos 6, Rupertswood 6, Macedon 6, Diggers Rest/Bulla 0.
Matches this Saturday are:
Gisborne v Woodend.
Diggers Rest/Bulla v Romsey.
Sunbury Kangaroos v Sunbury United.
Macedon v Rupertswood.
