A SECOND century in as many innings to Spring Gully’s Rhys Webb has set West Bendigo a challenging run chase in the Emu Valley Cricket Association.
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The Crows put the Redbacks to the sword in blasting 5-366 before declaring after 62 overs on Saturday.
Spring Gully lost opener Brannon Stanford (5) early, bringing Webb to the crease.
Coming off an unbeaten 107 in the second innings against Marong the previous week, Webb picked up from where he left off, cracking 121 as his fine form continued.
Webb has now made at least 57 in four of his past five innings, while of the six centuries scored in the EVCA so far, his was the fourth by a Spring Gully player.
The Crows’ strong batting performance also included Lachlan Brook making 89 and Joel Bish scoring 66 as part of a 172-run partnership with Webb for the second wicket.
The Crows’ decision to declare with 13 overs still left in their innings paid off as the Redbacks have already lost one wicket in their chase, with Ben Henson (11) dismissed by Byron Perrin (1-6).
The Redbacks – aiming to win three in a row for the first time since 2013-14 – will resume next Saturday at 1-27 and needing another 340 runs.
• United recovered from a shaky 4-58 to bat out its 75 overs and post 9-228 against Sedgwick at Ewing Park.
The Tigers’ rescue mission was led by Noah Walsh (59 n.o.), James Smith (43) and Xavier Walsh (37), while No.11 Jacob Piccoli (9 n.o.) also played a valuable role late in the day.
The Tigers had been 9-180 before Piccoli stuck with Noah Walsh to add another 48 runs.
Justin Hancock bowled well for the Rams to take 4-42 off 16 overs.
Hancock claimed three of the first four wickets to fall when he dismissed Sam Conforti (12), Keiran Nihill (0) and Andrew Duguid (9).
• Ball dominated bat in the match between Golden Gully and Maiden Gully at California Gully Oval.
After winning the toss and bowling, the Cobras dismissed Maiden Gully for 122.
The Cobras had the clamps on Maiden Gully early at 5-38, before Justin Marsh later finished the innings off.
Marsh picked up the last three wickets to fall as part of his 3-2 off 2.5 overs, while the Cobras also had multiple wicket-takers in Kansas Varker (2-30) and Bradley Smith (2-32).
The Cobras’ bowling attack also included an economical 1-7 off seven overs from Mick Galvin.
Dallas Gill (24) and Jordan Beecham (23 n.o.), who earned a call up from the seconds, were the only players to make more than 20 for Maiden Gully.
Having progressed to 0-36 to start their run-chase, the Cobras hit the skids late as Maiden Gully’s Rob Brown (3-7) snared three quick wickets – Jordan Knight (0), Smith (0) and Travis Nolan (2) – before stumps.
The Cobras will resume their chase at 3-40.
• Winless Marong passed 200 for the first time this season as it worked its way to 8-231 against Mandurang.
The Rangas were on top early when James Pietromonaco (2-43) claimed the wickets of openers Scott Ross (4) and Greg Fennell (0) to have the Panthers 2-13.
However, the Panthers were able to steady their innings through contributions led by Adam Chisholm (56), who was an inclusion from the seconds, Jeremy Ross (44 n.o.), Duane Anderson (40), Andrew Gladstone (35) and Shannon Walters (26).
Matt Pask (3-29) was the Rangas’ leading wicket-taker.
