Barbados has produced some great cricketers over generations, and Alex Browne lived up to his reputation as a big hitter with a blistering match-winning century for Macedon on Saturday.
Browne slammed an unbeaten 106 runs from 51 deliveries in the Twenty/20 McIntyre Cup 1sts fixture against Broadford.
His innings, which included 12 fours and two sixes on the Tony Clarke Oval, set the stage for Macedon’s first win of the GDCA season.
Macedon has been waiting for the all-rounder to erupt with the bat since the season began, and the occasion was when the Cats were about to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary, with a special dinner in the evening.
Club president Steve Harrison said later it was a great day for the club on and off the field.
Macedon’s 1sts and 2nds won, with opener Dale Taverna making 100 before retiring and Brett McKay 67 in a tally of 3/213 c.c. against Blackwood in Jensen 2nds.
Blackwood raced to 5/216 in just 28 overs — Ben Whithouse 91, Luke Whitehuse 49, Mingma Sherpa 46 not out in reply.
Spectators were in awe at Tony Clarke as Browne took the long handle to the Broadford attack.
After being 3-42, the Cats stepped up the tempo with former captain Daniel Trotta slamming 45 from 27 balls in a fourth-wicket stand of 102 with Browne.
Broadford faced a formidable chase of 188 for victory, and were always behind the run rate. Gareth Sharpe made 69 and the innings concluded at 6/170, with the largely young Macedon side excited to finally get a win.
GISBORNE TOO GOOD
For the second time in a week, Gisborne proved too strong for Woodend in McIntyre 1sts.
Woodend elected to bat at Gardiner Reserve, where there was a cavalcade of entertainment at a large crowd with evening activities.
Using six different bowlers, Gisborne restricted Woodend to 6/148 with Josh Easterly a quick 37 not out and Marcus 30 the main scorers. Josh Brown removed both openers.
Woodend needed early wickets, but for the second week in succession Spencer Jones and the very much in-form Riley Vernon put on a half century opening stand.
The Dragons had a temporary hiccup when Harrison Sheahan claimed two wickets in two deliveries, but Vernon continued on before being caught for 66 off just 38 balls.
The home side won with nine balls remaining and 7/149 on the board and an eye on top spot.
Finals aspirant Romsey, at home, was in the box seat after restricting Sunbury Kangaroos to just 6/108 c.c., with wickets shared.
Mathew Milne returned to form with 46, and Nathan Hoy slammed an unbeaten 39 in quick time as the Redbacks cruised to 4/109 from 14 overs.
Rupertswood failed with the bat against Sunbury United and battled to reach 8/97 c.c.
United then struggled against a persistent attack, but won with three balls to spare.
In Jensen 2nds, Malmsbury’s Matt Cox came to the rescue by scoring 103 against Hanging Rock in a tally of 9/181.
Cox then captured 3-3 with the ball as the Berries won by 53 runs.
Woodend’s Alistair Gray scored 100 and retired in the Jensen 3rds match against Melton.
The GDCA executive wishes all clubs and supporters compliments of the season.There will be a holiday break, with the next round of matches scheduled for Saturday, January 11.
ALL THE SCORES
Results of Gisborne District Cricket Association matches on Saturday were:
McIntyre Cup 1sts: Woodend 5/148 c.c. (J. Eastley 37 n.o., M. Stewart) lost to Gisborne 7/149 (R. Vernon 66); Sunbury Kangaroos 6/108 c.c. Lost to Romsey 4/109 (M. Milne 46, N. Hoy 39 n.o.); Rupertswood 96 (J. Hughes 3-7) lost to Sunbury United 8/97 (N. Crotty 3-23); Macedon 5/187 c.c. (A. Browne 106 n.o., D. Trotta 45) d Broadford 6/170 (G. Sharp 69).
Johnstone 1sts: Diggers Rest/Bulla 6/116 c.c. (J. Reid 33 –L. Zelvys 3-9) lost to Kilmore 2/120 (C. Partridge 47 n.o., D. McNicholas 44 n.o.; Aintree 6/129 c.c. (C. Kalsi 55 n.o., G. Singh 28) d East Sunbury 8/124 (B. Watson 52 – P. Venkatesh 3-18); Wallan 4/155 c.c. (B. Vance 72, R. Cumberland 31) d Eynesbury 7/106 (C. Fowler 3-16).
McIntyre 2nds: Broadford 6/89 lost to Macedon 3/91; Sunbury United 7/132 c.c. (L. Watts 37 — O. McAliece 3-16 d; Rupertswood 9/124 (T. Taylor-White 39 — D. Falzon 3-27) ; Woodend 4/157 c.c. (J. Pettigrew71 n.o., B. Warner 46 n.o.) d Gisborne 118 (W. Mackay 31 — B. Gardner 4-6).
Johnstone 2nds: Aintree 4/146 (G. Nahal 38) d East Sunbury 7/61 ; Eynesbury 7/123 c.c. J. Tardrew 36) lost to Wallan 4/124 (B. Bishop 34 n.o., B. Regan 30); Diggers Rest-Bulla 121 (N. Crosland 30 – Z. Ryan 4-9) d Kilmore 55 (L. Andrews 5-13).
Jensen 1sts: Rupertswood 93 (B. Pearson 41 — S. Taylor 5-9, A. Richardt 4-11) lost to Lancefield 2/94 (C. Sankey 42 n.o.); Gisborne 145 (J. Gruevski 32 — M. Hussain 4-10) lost to Melton South 8/147 (M. Ehsan 33); Wallan 122 (H. Mullavey-Clark 41 — B. Singh 3-16) d Harkness 8/56 (N. Reus 4-12); Riddell 68 (H. Fisher 30 — J. Newman 3-12) lost to Sunbury United 9/69 (M. Lloyd 3-7).
Jensen 2nds: Malmsbury 9/181c.c. (M. Cox 103) d Hanging Rock 148 (L. Vincent 35 — K. Fisher 4-27, M. Cox 3-3); Macedon 3/213 c.c. (D. Taverna 100 ret., B. McKay 67 — L. Whitehouse 3-37) lost to Blackwood 5/216 (B. Whitehouse 91, L. Whitehouse 49, M. Sherpa 46 n.o.); Romsey 5/270 (J. East 69 n.o., C. Armstrong 68, J. Wallace 57) d Lancefield 131 (B. Muntz 40 – B. Reid 4-38); Trentham 93 (H. Forgo 32 — A. Alameh 5-21, S. Silva 3-1) lost to Rupertswood 3/95 (A. Sutherland 43, T. Hayes 36).
Jensen 3rds: Sunbury 150 (N. Davies 38) lost to Gisborne 8/153 (J. Allen 4-38); Sunbury Kangaroos 164 (N. Patel 47, G. Bennett 45 – J. Sorraghan 5-38) d Diggers Rest/Bulla 60 (J. McIntosh 3-3, Patel 3-6); Melton Centrals 208 (M. Murphy 76, L. Dawes 31) d Kilmore 8/130; Woodend 7/277 c.c. (A. Gray 100 ret., J. Fiford 45, J. Gray 34 d Mel (N. Sohi 33ton 141 — J. Johnston 3-34, B. Sliwczynski 3-31); Harkness 86 )N. Sohi 33 – L. Bielby 3-6, G. Miller 3-22) lost to Melton South 7/87 (Z. Khan 4-28).
Club North: Woodend 5/203 (P. Jamieson 52, G. Sullivan 35, P. McBride 34) d Wallan 115 (C. Masters 36 — P. McBride 3-11); Gisborne 8/237 (J. Wallace 57 n.o., H. Telfer 50, J. Hynes 41 — L. McElhinney 3-45) N. Jeffrey 3-49) d Lancefield 8/83 (Telfer 3-6); Malmsbury 6/190 c.c. (R. De Podolinsky 50 ret., B. McCutcheon 37) d Broadford 82 (B. Terbeeke 3-1); Eastern Hill 6/137 c.c. (C. Russell 47, M. Hall 30) d Kilmore 89 (J. Acret 33 – M. Fulton 4-21).
Club South: Gisborne 6/117 (L. Moss 54) lost to Rupertswood 5/118 (P. Kavanagh 49, A. Morrison 31); Riddell 5/176 c.c. (M. Rosacker 38 n.o., M. Lindsay 34 — K. Connelly 3-41) d Eynesbury 9/125 (B. Chamberlain 41); Woodend 9/121 (D. Ranson 51 n.o.) lost to Sunbury United 6/131 (K. Dhanjal 30- A. Black 3-27).
