Bendigo captain-coach Shane Koop labelled Kyle Humphrys’ match-winning 115 not out as one of the best centuries he’s seen live.
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Humphrys’ stunning knock was the highlight of round one of the Bendigo District Cricket Association.
The Goers looked gone when they crashed to 6-43 chasing Huntly-North Epsom’s total of 9-139.
An hour later they’d won the game without the loss of another wicket.
Humphrys combined with Jack Belsar to add an unbeaten 103 for the seventh wicket. Of the 103, Belsar made three.
At the other end, Humprys, who was playing his first game in the BDCA after moving from Warrnambool, calmly hit the ball to all parts of the Huntly ground on his way to 115 not out off 101 balls, including 17 fours and four sixes.
“Without Kyle we probably would have been bowled out for 50 or 60,’’ Koop said on Sunday.
“It’s one of the best centuries I’ve seen live. The way he controlled the game was just sensational.
“It was a brutal innings the way he hit the ball. He knows his game so well and he knows his scoring zones. He showed that he has great game sense.”
Koop said Belsar’s role in the partnership shouldn’t be understated.
“Jack has been in and out of A-grade for the past couple of years, but he just walked out, engaged in the contest and played his role,’’ Koop said.
“His job was to absorb the pressure and not get out… he played it perfectly.”
Earlier in the day, Humphrys took 2-26 with his off-spinners, while Tom Hart claimed 3-34 as the Goers bowled well to restrict the Power.
Opener Anthony Tanner (56 off 98 balls) was the backbone of the Power innings.
Medium-pace bowler Mitch Whittle was the Power’s best bowler, taking 3-9 off eight overs.
Sandhurst couldn’t have asked for a better start to the BDCA season.
The Dragons defeated reigning premier Eaglehawk by four wickets in a thrilling clash at Canterbury Park.
Sandhurst’s much-vaunted spin quartet did the damage with the ball, taking eight of the nine Eaglehawk wickets to fall.
The Hawks made a great start with Anthony West (21) and skipper Cory Jacobs adding 66 for the first wicket.
Jeremy Brown made 12 in his first game back at the Borough before he became young spinner Todd Murphy’s second wicket.
The Hawks still looked well placed for a score of around 200 when they were 2-123, but the introduction of left-arm spinner Sam Sperling turned the game.
He took three quick wickets – Cam McGlashan (14), Jason Abbott (1) and Matt Fitt (0) – and the Hawks stumbled to 5-129.
The innings lost momentum and it was left to Jacobs (79 off 123 balls) to ensure the home side posted a competitive 9-170.
Sandhurst skipper Craig Howard took 3-20 off 7.5 overs for the Dragons, while Sperling finished with 3-21 and Murphy 2-38.
The Dragons looked set for a first-up defeat when they stumbled to 5-71.
However, a 66-run stand between Sri Lanikan recruit Nayana Palamandadige and Shane Robinson changed the momentum of the game.
Palamandadige posted a half-century on debut before falling for 57 to give the Hawks a sniff of victory.
Robinson (42 not out) continued to bat sensibly and teenager Darby Semmens (17 not out) was cool under pressure and the dup added 34 for the seventh wicket to see the Dragons home with nine balls to spare.
Jacobs capped a fine all-round game for the Hawks by taking 3-25 off nine overs.
For the second season in succession Kangaroo Flat got the better of Strathdale-Maristians.
A disciplined bowling performance from the Roos set up the six-wicket victory.
Veteran Sun Nick Baker (41) was the only batsman to pass 20 as the home side was bowled out for 135 off 40 overs.
All six of the Roos’ bowlers claimed at least one wicket. English import Jamie Dass was impressive, with 2-13 off six overs, while Brent Hamblin claimed 2-18 and Adam Burns celebrated his 200th first XI game with 2-33, including two wickets in two balls.
Strathdale’s reply with the ball didn’t start well when Sam Johnston conceded 11 runs through wides in his opening over.
Kangaroo Flat number three Jake Klemm showed his class, with a fine unbeaten 71 to guide the Roos home with eight overs to spare. Klemm faced just 95 balls and hit seven fours and three sixes.
Johnston bounced back strongly with the ball for the Suns to take 3-27 off eight overs.
Last season’s wooden spooners Strathfieldsaye scored a three-wicket win over BDCA power Bendigo United.
The Jets bowled superbly to restrict the Redbacks to 6-149 off 45 overs.
With Ben Gunn departed for Golden Square and Heath Behrens retired, the Redbacks’ batting line-up lacks the firepower of recent seasons and the Jets took advantage.
Openers Riley Treloar (37 off 95 balls) and Mark DiFede (16 off 68 balls) made a patient start before Leigh McDermott (26 off 34) and Harry Donegan (29 off 46) tried late in the innings to lift the Redbacks’ score to around the 170 mark.
The Redbacks’ inability to have one batsman go on and post a score of 50-plus came back to haunt them and they had to settle for a score of 6-149.
Leg-spinner Andrew Stove took 4-40 for the Jets, while Michael Curtis (1-15 off nine overs) and Beauden Rinaldi (1-21 off nine overs) kept things tight.
Strathfieldsaye’s run chase couldn’t have started any worse when Zoltan Smyth was bowled by Miggy Podosky off the first ball of the innings.
Greg Lyon (23) and a quickfire innings from Pat Felmingham (19) put the Jets on the right track.
Ben Devanny (47) provided the backbone of the innings, while Mitch Cheesman (20) played a handy cameo. Three quick wickets gave the Redbacks a late spark, but Bodee Scullie (29 not out) iced the win with seven balls remaining.
Podosky (2-28) and Josh Thurston (2-41) were the most successful Bendigo United bowlers, while McDermott (1-16 off nine overs) was the most economical.
Golden Square’s bowlers dug the Bulldogs out of trouble in their round one clash with White Hills.
Square’s high-profile batting line-up failed to fire first up against a disciplined Demon attack.
Only Scott Trollope (39 off 35) and Zane Keighran (29 off 39) passed 20 as the Dogs spluttered to all out for 145 in the 43rd over.
White Hills’ skipper Mitch Winter-Irving claimed 3-33, while left-armer Nick Wharton produced a fine spell to take 2-19 off nine overs.
The Demons were on track to give the Bulldogs’ total a shake, but a collapse of 4-6 saw them tumble from 1-35 to 4-41 and they never recovered.
Ryan Grundy (27) top scored for White Hills in its total of 101.
Golden Square opening bowler Darren Clutton showed he hasn’t lost any of his pace or class. In his first game back for the Dogs he took 3-12 off nine overs, while spinner Jamie Bysouth (3-17) was superb.