MORE CRICKET – West Bendigo v Maiden Gully, round 10 | PHOTOS
EMU Creek smashed the Emu Valley Cricket’s Association’s third 400-plus total in 14 days, led by centuries from captain Todd Brown and Brad Rowe, on Saturday.
After being sent into bat, the Emus plundered the season’s highest score, 7-438, against California Gully at J.G. Edwards Oval.
Emu Creek’s mammoth score came a round after Sedgwick made 8-415 against West Bendigo, having also been sent in, and Spring Gully cracked 4-410 against Mandurang.
Brown’s 130 for the Emus completed a set of back-to-back centuries after he also scored 103 retired in a one-day game against Mandurang in his previous hit.
The left-hander now has 495 runs for the season at an average of 55.5, with his two tons in a row coming off the back of making a round eight duck against Sedgwick.
Coming in at 4-166 and off the back of being dismissed for a pair of ducks in his previous two innings, Rowe batted through until stumps in finishing 132 n.o.
Century-makers Brown and Rowe put on 124 together for the fifth wicket.
Also getting among the runs for the Emus was veteran Shane Hamilton.
Hamilton has spent the bulk of the season in division two – including making 182 against West Bendigo last month – but back in division one the opener scored 82.
The Emus scored at a run-rate of 5.84 off their 75 overs, with their tally of 7-438 ranked No.8 for EVCA highest scores since 2006-07.
Jordan Knight (2-96) and Brad Webster (2-85) took two wickets apiece on a long day in the field for the Cobras.
Webster also held the catch to dismiss Brown off Bradley Smith (1-45).
• Marong has a score of 9-220 on the board against Mandurang in a pivotal battle in the fight for fourth spot.
The fourth-placed Rangas are one game clear of the Panthers on the ladder and must win to maintain their position in the top four.
The Panthers’ innings was highlighted by a lengthy knock from opener Duane Anderson.
Anderson – the Panthers’ leading run-scorer this season with 298 – batted for 260 minutes and faced 208 balls in compiling 82.
Anderson is averaging 37.2 this season, but 91.0 in innings when he has made at least 20.
He batted through until he was the eighth wicket to fall.
Six Mandurang bowlers took a wicket, with the economical Beau Roy-Clements (2-34 off 19) producing the best figures.
Phil Berry (1-25) claimed four catches for the Rangas, which included the caught and bowled dismissal of Anderson.
• Maiden Gully is well on the way to victory against West Bendigo.
After bowling the Redbacks out for 148 in the 52nd over, the Lions raced to 4-117 off 20 overs at stumps, needing just 32 more runs for victory next Saturday.
Dallas Gill (2-16), Shane Rabbitt (2-6) and Leon Beatty (2-13) all took two wickets each for the Lions, who made a perfect start to the day when Redbacks dangerman Travis O’Connell was dismissed for a second-ball duck by Mitch Van Poppel (1-24), caught by Gill.
The bulk of the Redbacks’ 148 runs were scored by the duo of Zac Makeham (50) and Gary Singh (46).
• United restricted the explosive Sedgwick batting line-up to 209 following an early flyer by the Rams in their tussle at Club Court.
Jacob Piccoli became the fourth Tigers’ player this season to take a five-for by snaring 5-50 off 25 consecutive overs, with his scalps including the Rams’ top scorer Simon Marwood (68).
All-rounder Marwood’s 68 came off just as many balls and featured 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Peter Moore finished unbeaten on 44 for the Rams, whose best partnership was the 94 Marwood added with Greg Thomas (29) for the third wicket.
• In Sunday’s one-day game Spring Gully (2-152) defeated West Bendigo (144) by eight wickets.
The game’s standout performer was Spring Gully’s Jesse Marciano (75 n.o. and 3-12).
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
