Rupertswood displayed plenty of fighting spirit to defeat reigning premiers Gisborne by 12 runs in a dramatic fourth round McIntyre Cup 1sts one-day match on Saturday.
It rates as a major upset, as Rupo was well beaten at Woodend the previous Saturday, and captain Matt Twentyman was forced to retire hurt on 40 with a very painful lower leg injury.
Gisborne was in the box seat with paceman Leigh Brennan capturing 5/23 to follow up his five wickets in the previous match.
However, Rupo’s down-the-order bats contributed and upped the run rate late in the innings to post a competitive 9/207 c.c. from 45 overs on the Salesian College ground.
Gisborne batters failed to capitalise on Riley Vernon compiling 73; he was the eighth man dismissed at a crucial stage.
With plenty of home-side support on the sidelines, Rupertswood dismissed the Dragons for 195 with three balls remaining. Wickets were shared around.
ROMSEY ON TOP
After three spine-tingling last-over victories, Romsey found the going easier when they played a very young Macedon side at John Clifford Reserve.
The Redbacks compiled 6/247 c.c. with very much in-form Chris Burkett leading the way with 74 (10 fours, four sixes) in quick time, following on from his previous unbeaten half centuries.
Young all-rounder Corey Day impressed with a quick unbeaten 68, and opener Taylor Stevenson contributed 49 in a tally of 5/247 c.c.
Adam Frost then snared three early wickets, and Macedon was in trouble when its senior batters were dismissed.
To their credit, the Cats continued to fight hard, led by Harry Pinder with a run a ball 79 (three sixes, seven fours). The innings ended at 210 with Romsey looking ahead to the two-day fixtures, and Macedon hoping to secure a victory.
WOODEND EASILY
Facing a danger match at Broadford, Woodend was soon in command with Harry Lawson capturing three early wickets in his first three overs.
Keeping the pressure on, the Woodsmen dismissed Broadford for a meagre 135 (Hamish McDonald 3-21, Lawson 3-23).
For Woodend, captain Marcus Stewart hit a polished unbeaten 78 and Xavier Tadd 43 in a percentage-boosting 2/138 off 29.1 overs.
In the remaining match, Sunbury Kangaroos was contained to 8/168, and finals-bound Sunbury United replied with 1/163 from 32 overs with the top three batters all getting among the runs.
There were plenty of strong individual performances in the other grades.
In Johnstone Shield, new team Eastern Hill’s Ollie Bryant hit an unbeaten 102 off 81 balls against Kilmore, and Ben Bryant captured 4-4 from eight overs to ensure victory over Kilmore.
Romsey’s Daniel Wright slammed 100 off 36 balls against Trentham, with Gavin Thomson making 93 in response.
Woodend veteran Barry Mann claimed 4-5 and followed up with a half century.
TWO-DAY MATCHES
McIntyre Cup 1sts cricket matches over the next two Saturdays are:
Gisborne v Broadford (Sankey Reserve).
Rupertswood v Romsey (Salesian College).
Woodend v Sunbury United (Gilbert Gordon Oval).
Sunbury Kangaroos v Macedon (Boardman Oval).