STRATHDALE-Maristians’ opening batsman Cameron Taylor’s red-hot form in the Bendigo District Cricket Association continued on Saturday when he made his third century in as many games.
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Taylor finished unbeaten on 102 in the Suns’ nine-wicket win over Bendigo at Atkins Street.
It was the second game in a row Bendigo had been on the receiving end of a Taylor ton.
The previous week against the Goers Taylor smashed 113, while the game before that, he made 127 against Strathfieldsaye.
It’s the first time since Eaglehawk’s Jeremy Brown made scores of 100, 108 and 101 in rounds four, five and six of the 2003-04 season that a BDCA player has struck three centuries in as many games.
Taylor – the reigning Cricketer of the Year – now leads the BDCA in runs at the mid-season break, with 436 at an average of 87.2.
Taylor’s rich vein of form comes after what had been a quiet start to the season when he made just 41 runs from his first three innings, including twice being dismissed for two.
“We’ve been lucky to have played on some good wickets over the past few games, and the guys I’ve been batting with have been batting well, so that helps to take the pressure off,” Taylor said yesterday.
“I’ve had a bit of luck over the past few games, but that’s cricket... you’ve got to take it when it comes your way.”
With Saturday’s win over Bendigo, the Suns have reached the mid-season break with a perfect 8-0 record and sitting 10 points clear at the top of the ladder.
They can’t be better placed for a tilt at a third-straight premiership when the season resumes on January 12.
While the Goers were beaten by the Suns for the second week in a row, it was a much better effort.
Having failed to reach 100 in either innings of their outright loss the previous week, the Goers made 7-215 batting first off their 45 overs.
The experienced Mark Ryan led the way, scoring 71, while Brett Andrews (25), Alex Pearson (23), Nathan Fitzpatrick (22) and captain Marcus McKern (20) all chipped in with contributions.
The best partnership of the innings was the 78 put on by Ryan and Fitzpatrick for the fifth wicket.
Suns’ paceman Ben DeAraugo had another good day with the ball, picking up 3-39 off nine overs to follow on from his 11-wicket haul against the Goers a week earlier.
In reply, the Suns (1-216) lost just one wicket in chasing their target down and extending their win-loss record against the Goers since 2000 to 18-2.
As well as Taylor’s unbeaten 102, Jono Davidson made 87 not out, with the pair sharing in an unbroken stand of 182 for the second wicket.
The batsman dismissed was Travis King (14), who once again fell victim to his most common mode of dismissal – caught behind – off Fitzpatrick (1-32) with the score on 34.
It has been a tough fortnight with the ball for the young Goers against the might of the Suns, who in their two games against Bendigo scored 2-395 off 71 overs.