A blistering 136 from 113 balls by belligerent Gisborne opener Warren Kelly set the tone for big Christmas celebrations at Gardiner Reserve on Saturday evening.
Kelly dispatched the Diggers Rest/Bulla bowlers to all parts of Gardiner Reserve, with the Dragons rattling up a formidable 8/290 c.c.
McIntyre Cup and Johnstone Cup two-day matches which had been washed out the previous Saturday became one-day fixtures in ideal weather conditions.
Earlier in the season Kelly slammed 140 off 108 balls against Macedon, and Gisborne go into the festive season break unbeaten and hot favourites for the 2023-24 McIntyre 1sts flag.
All the favourites won in McIntyre 1sts on Saturday, with Gisborne bowling Diggers Rest/Bulla out for 116 as the pre-Christmas celebrations warmed up.
At Gilbert Gordon Oval, Woodend compiled 8/215 c.c. against Rupertswood with captain Marcus Stewart leading the way with 83 from 101 deliveries.
After being a shaky 4/86 at one stage, Stewart held the innings together and was not dismissed until 200 runs were on the board.
Woodend all-rounders Hayden Ingleton and Warren Else each captured four wickets as Rupertswood crumbled for 113.
In the other two matches second-placed Romsey’s 9/208 proved to be 48 runs too much for Sunbury Kangaroos, and finals aspirant unbury United defeated Macedon by 75 runs.
Across the grades, the highest individual score was Gareth Sharp’s unbeaten 144 for Broadford against Rupertswood in Johnstone Shield 2nds.
Karl Sutherland’s unbeaten 102 from 94 balls for Rupertswood was enough to dash Woodend’s hopes in McIntyre 2nds.
Kapilment Singh Sandhu compiled an unbeaten 101 for Aintree against Malmsbury in a high scoring Jensen 1sts encounter at the MCG.
Evergreen Peter Sankey retired unbeaten on 102 for Gisborne in Club North.
The closest finish of the day saw Romsey defeat Hanging Rock by one run in Jensen 1sts, with Daniel Wright the star with bat and ball for the winners.
The GDCA executive extends compliments of the festive season to all cricketers and their families, looking forward to 2024.
