RELATED – Last week’s day one wrap
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CALIFORNIA GULLY V SEDGWICK
SEDGWICK’S Greg Thomas put his former side California Gully to the sword with a brilliant unbeaten 150 to lead the Rams to their first win of the Emu Valley Cricket Association season on Saturday.
The Rams made light work of the Cobras’ 262, answering with 5-323 at California Gully Oval.
Opener Thomas batted through the entire 82-over innings for the Rams, setting the early-season benchmark score with his 150 not out.
While Thomas was the mainstay of the Rams’ innings, they also had Simon Marwood (61) and veteran Scott McKenzie (57 n.o.) post half-centuries in the run-feast in what was a strong statement from Sedgwick in its first game following a round one bye.
The Cobras used eight bowlers, with skipper Brad Webster (2-46) the only multiple wicket-taker.
MAIDEN GULLY V SPRING GULLY
• Reigning premier Spring Gully delivered a 198-run thrashing to Maiden Gully.
The Lions got nowhere near Spring Gully’s tally of 283 as they were bowled out inside 40 overs for just 85.
Nick Skeen was the chief destroyer with the ball for the Crows, leading the rout with a haul of five wickets.
Skeen snared 5-19 off 10 overs, heaping the pressure on the Lions, who had one stage been 7-44.
Wicket-keeper Brannon Stanford had a productive day behind the stumps for the Crows with four catches.
Only Leigh Draper (25) and Alex Gorrie (23) reached double figures for the Lions. No other batsmen made more than six, with four dismissed for one or less.
MANDURANG V UNITED
• Mandurang’s last pair of Jeremy Hancock and Thomas Martin dug in to force a draw against United.
A delayed start due to a wet pitch at Pearce Reserve reverted the game to ordinary conditions.
The Tigers had 210 on the board and looked in the box seat to claim victory when they had the Rangas 9-167 with eight overs remaining.
However, the Tigers were unable to break the last-wicket partnership between Hancock (12 n.o.) and Martin (2 n.o.), who survived until stumps, pushing the score to 9-180 as the Rangas held on for a draw.
Hancock’s gritty innings to save the game followed his bag of five wickets for the Rangas on day one.
The Tigers were on top early when they had the Rangas 4-48 and and then 7-86, but a steadying partnership between Adam Reaper (58) and Beau Roy-Clements (18) halted the flow of wickets.
United recruit Trent Bysouth (3-34) was the leading wicket-taker for the Tigers.
EMU CREEK V MARONG
• Emu Creek marked its return to division one with a 19-run victory over Marong.
In pursuit of the Panthers’ 207 the Emus recovered from 8-161 to post 226.
Cohen Kekich (37) and Khan Birtles (25 n.o.) lifted Emu Creek out of trouble with a 53-run stand for the ninth wicket that steered the Emus to victory.
The innings earlier including 50 to new skipper Todd Brown, who completed a fine all-round game after taking six wickets on day one.
The innings also featured a 24-ball cameo from Jeremy Brown, who cracked 45 before he was one of four wickets for Panthers’ skipper Tom Wilson (4-62).
………………………….
Ladder:
1. Spring Gully – 24
2. Mandurang – 18
3. Sedgwick – 12
4. West Bendigo – 12
5. Emu Creek – 12
6. Maiden Gully – 12
7. United – 6
8. Marong – 0
9. California Gully – 0
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