THREE centuries highlighted the opening day of action in the Emu Valley Cricket Association season on Saturday.
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Mandurang team-mates Matthew Pask and Matt Giri both scored hundreds, as did Emu Creek veteran Shane Hamilton.
The Rangas wasted no time putting West Bendigo to the sword as they scored at 7.2 runs per over in blasting 6-346 declared at Ken Wust Oval.
Mandurang batted for just 48 overs, with explosive opener Giri already having brought up his ton before the first drinks break off 48 balls.
Giri finished with 114 off 57, including 20 boundaries, putting on 170 for the first wicket with Phil Berry (64 off 112).
Pask later scored an unbeaten 122 off 85 (11 boundaries), while Gary Singh (5-122 off 20) took five of West Bendigo’s six wickets.
The Rangas went to stumps in a strong position to press for outright points next week, with the Redbacks in strife at 6-55, having at one stage been 6-29.
James Pietromonaco (4-14) already has four wickets for Mandurang.
• Hamilton’s 112 was the backbone of Emu Creek’s 9-250 against Sedgwick at Club Court.
The opener batted through until he was the fifth wicket to fall with the score at 203.
Earlier, Hamilton put on 123 for the opening stand with Brad Rowe (42).
The Emus also had captain Simon Marwood (28) and Andrew Harris (25) get starts.
Anthony Purcell (4-51) was the leading wicket-taker for the Rams, which included the scalp of Hamilton, who was caught by Rick Ladson.
Veteran Scott McKenzie chipped in with a tidy 3-45 off 18 overs.
• Golden Gully recovered from 7-118 to post 221 against reigning premier United at Langdon Building Oval.
The Cobras’ lower-order revival was led by Jeremy Rogerson (57 n.o.) and Shaun O’Shea (32).
The Cobras had been solidly-placed at 1-88, but suffered a collapse in which they lost 6-30 before the lower order came to the rescue.
Patrick Hartney snared 3-41 for the Tigers, who also had opening bowler Isacc Miller (2-49) and skipper Josh White (2-56) take two wickets each.
• Marong has the upper hand in its game against Maiden Gully at Villawood Oval.
On the back of Panthers’ left-armer Duane Anderson dominating with 5-15 off 12 overs, Maiden Gully was bundled out for 123, with the last four wickets falling for just nine runs.
Leigh Draper top scored with 36 for Maiden Gully, which also had opener Rob Brown make 30.
The Panthers went to stumps at 2-45 off 17 overs, needing 79 runs with eight wickets in hand to get over the line next Saturday.