IT was the Miggy Podosky and Heath Behrens show at Atkins Street at the weekend as Bendigo United defeated Bendigo by 219 runs in round four of the Bendigo District Cricket Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yesterday, Podosky claimed a career-best 7-25 off 22 overs, while on Saturday Behrens blasted an unbeaten 145 in the Redbacks’ 4-376.
Behrens’ century was his 23rd for the Redbacks and he is now just one shy of Wayne Walsh’s BDCA record of 24 hundreds.
It also kept intact Behrens’ phenomenal record of scoring at least one century in every season since 1998-99.
Behrens smashed 12 boundaries and six sixes in his 175-ball knock as his superb record at Atkins Street continued.
He was in ominous form from the outset, with his first eight scoring shots including four boundaries and a six.
As well as Behrens’ unbeaten 145, opener Mark Di Fede (55 off 114) and Patrick Naughtin (58 off 88) posted half-centuries.
Di Fede and Curtis Tuohey (48 off 85) gave the Redbacks a strong platform to launch from with an opening stand of 98.
The Goers – who have averaged 106 runs per wicket with the ball over their past three matches – had veteran Mark Ryan (2-57) as their sole multiple wicket-taker.
The Goers didn’t help themselves by bowling 18 wides.
Yesterday, the Bendigo innings was in tatters when 20 overs in the Goers had crashed to 6-32.
Podosky claimed five of those early wickets, at which stage he had figures of 5-12.
However, the last four Bendigo wickets combined to put on 125 as the winless Goers reached 157.
Just like he did the previous week against Golden Square, 15-year-old Nathan Fitzpatrick batted superbly under pressure.
Fitzpatrick notched up his maiden first XI half-century with 52 off 183 balls, during which he put on 73 for the eighth wicket with Scott Dole.
As well as Podosky claiming seven wickets, he also took the catch to dismiss Michael Winzar (11).
● Captain Linton Jacobs and Jonathan Davidson set a new partnership record for Strathdale-Maristians in the Suns’ clash against White Hills at Integrating Technology Oval. The pair combined to put on 277 for the second wicket in what was a resounding Suns’ win.
Chasing the Demons’ 8-199, the Suns responded with 3-327, with Jacobs belting 170 and Davidson 88.
Their partnership began on the fifth ball of the innings after out-of-form opener Cameron Taylor (2) was caught at slip by Aaron Monro off Travis Colley (1-24).
However, from 1-2, the Demons didn’t take another wicket until the 72nd over when Davidson, who faced 207 balls and hit 12 boundaries, was caught and bowled by Gavin Bowles (2-35) with the score on 279.
Jacobs batted into the 74th over, with his 238-ball innings ending when caught by Brayden Klemke at square-leg off Bowles.
In what was his fourth ton for the Suns, Jacobs belted 21 boundaries and one six.
On Saturday, Suns’ speedster Ben DeAraugo tore through the Demons’ top-order on his way to figures of 5-53 off 26 overs.
The Demons were reeling at 5-49 in the 25th over, with DeAraugo claiming four of those first five wickets to fall.
However, knocks from Daniel Larke (36 off 112), Brayden Stepien (36 off 70), Sam Stagg (34 n.o. off 89) and captain Aaron Monro (29 off 91) lifted the Demons to 199.
As well as DeAraugo’s five-for, a feature of the Suns was their slips catching, with Dom Taylor and Adrian Pappin both taking beauties in the cordon early.
● Huntly-North Epsom capitulated with the bat against Eaglehawk at the Queen Elizabeth Oval yesterday.
Chasing the Hawks’ 213, the Power were bowled out for just 69 in 52 overs.
Andrew Smith was outstanding with the ball for the Hawks.
Smith bowled 18.2 overs for a return of 4-13, which included 11 maidens.
Of the 110 balls Smith bowled, the Power scored off just eight.
In what was a scorecard reminiscent of their dark years of seasons gone by, only opener Brodie McRae (20 off 64) and Isaac Hogan (16 off 92) made double figures for the Power.
Young opener Cameron McGlashan (2-15 off 16 overs) and recruit Jake Wright (3-28 off 13) also did the damage for the Hawks.
On Saturday, Matt Fitt and Anthony West both scored half-centuries for the Hawks.
Fitt spent 227 balls at the crease in compiling 59, while West scored a more brisk 53 off 95, with the pair putting on 71 for the second wicket after the early loss of captain Jason Abbott (12) with the score on 26.
Todd Brown also chipped in with a valuable 35, but again, the Hawks fell away with the bat, losing their last six wickets for just 43.
Sam Johnston (4-56) and Brett Elvey (4-63) combined for eight wickets for the Power.
● Strathfieldsaye’s poor batting cost it dearly against Sandhurst at Tannery Lane.
Chasing the Dragons’ 8-216, the Jets looked to have the game well in hand yesterday when they were 1-121 in the 48th over.
But in what is becoming an all-too-familiar story for the Jets, their batting then failed as they lost 9-64 to be bowled out for 185.
Liam Smith (61 off 161, seven fours), Cory Devanny (40), captain Ben Gunn (29), Justin Hargreaves (18 n.o.) and No.11 Josh Di Camillo (15) combined for 163 runs, and with five extras, the other six players contributed just 17.
Sandhurst spinner Dylan Gibson picked up 4-43 of 24 overs and sparked the Jets’ collapse by dismissing Smith. Andrew Sheehan (3-41) also bowled well.
On Saturday, Dragons opener Andrew Bourne backed up his century from the previous week with 52 off 144 (three fours).
Bourne and youngster Isaac Conway (20 off 76) again gave the Dragons a strong start with a 66-run opening partnership that lasted into the 27th over.
In the middle-order, Brenton Jones improved his batting average to 177 with his unbeaten 53 off 86 (five fours), while captain Nick Scullie added 40.
Gunn was the pick of the Jets’ attack with his 4-32 off 10 overs.