BRANNON Stanford became the third century-maker for Spring Gully in the opening five rounds of the Emu Valley Cricket Association season on Saturday as the Crows set United a mammoth run-chase.
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Having narrowly avoided being caught at mid-wicket off the first ball of the day, Stanford went on to plunder 133 off 134 balls in the Crows’ 9-350 on the Tigers’ 50th anniversary celebration weekend at Ewing Park.
Stanford had already brought up his century by tea, with his innings an onslaught of aggressive batting as he scored 110 of his runs through a mix of boundaries and sixes.
Stanford struck 23 boundaries and three sixes as he joined team-mates Rhys Webb and Alex Sutton as Spring Gully batsmen to have made centuries this season.
Stanford and Lachlan Brook (79) put on 205 for the opening wicket for the Crows, who had been 0-197 off 40 overs at tea.
The Tigers’ long-awaited first breakthrough came just after the tea break when Brook, who cracked 11 boundaries and two sixes, was dismissed by United skipper Harry Whittle (2-92).
Stanford’s innings came to an end with the score on 225 when he was bowled by Ben Manning (1-45) – the bowler who almost had him out first ball.
The Tigers used nine bowlers – the last of which was Joe Hartney, who cleaned up late and snared 5-49 off 13 overs.
• Emu Creek has already beaten Maiden Gully as its impressive return to division one continues.
The Emus routed the Lions inside 40 overs for just 91 on the back of an even bowling performance in which Luke Bennett (3-21), Anthony Collins (2-25), captain Todd Brown (2-14) and Torin Petrie (2-8) were multiple wicket-takers.
Recruit Tyrone Downie (1-8 off seven) was also in good nick with the ball against a Lions side whose innings was in tatters early at 3-5.
Only Dallas Gill (26) got past 20 for the Lions, who went to stumps trailing by 62 as the Emus closed at 2-153, which featured a half-century to Brad Rowe (53) that included 12 boundaries.
• Sedgwick posted 220 after winning the toss and batting against Mandurang.
It was an innings that had plenty of contributions led by Alan Friswell (48), Lucas Baldwin (40 n.o.), opener Daniel Chamberlain (37) and Peter Moore (34).
The Rangas’ bowling attack included a trio of players who all picked up three wickets – James Pietromonaco (3-31), Matt Pask (3-49) and Beau Roy-Clements (3-64).
• Marong needs a further 113 runs with eight wickets in hand to defeat West Bendigo.
The Panthers will resume their run-chase next Saturday at 2-103 in reply to the Redbacks’ 215 at Ken Wust Oval.
For the fourth time in six innings this season Redbacks’ opener Travis O’Connell (58) passed 50 as he lifted his tally of runs to 375.
The Redbacks also had Tarran Kilcullen make a valuable 42 n.o. at No.9, guiding West Bendigo past 200 after coming in at 7-138.
Jeremy Ross (3-30) and Dean Cosgriff (3-42) snared three wickets each for Marong, while it was a busy day in the field for Jayden Laubsch, who took four catches.
• In the Sunday one-day match Sedgwick (5-267) beat California Gully (8-190).
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