MORE CRICKET – Marong tips Mandurang out of top four in Emu Valley cricket
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NEWBRIDGE’S Taz Fitzallen gave his batting average a late-season boost, belting an unbeaten double century in the final round of the Upper Loddon Cricket Association on Saturday.
Fitzallen smashed 200 not out as Newbridge piled on 5-416 off its 70 overs at home against Boort-Yando.
“I had to work really hard for the first 50-or-so runs. I had a caught and bowled chance dropped when I was about 30, so I had a bit of luck there,” Fitzallen said.
“But once I got to 50 the runs started to come a bit easier.”
Fitzallen began his innings with Newbridge – which was sent into bat – at 1-17.
The 30-year-old’s memorable knock featured 10 boundaries and 12 sixes – one of which was launched over square leg that brought up his 200 late in the day.
Another of his sixes sailed over the Newbridge clubrooms.
Fitzallen’s knock took him to the top of the ULCA runs with 663 at an average of 66.3.
Fitzallen’s season got off to a solid start with 73, 56 and 67 in his first three hits, while he has now made 283 runs against Boort-Yando without going out. He also scored an unbeaten 83 against Boort-Yando in round seven.
In the only other Upper Loddon game being played in the final round due to two forfeits, 22 wickets fell on the opening day between Serpentine and Arnold.
Having been sent in, Arnold was bowled out for 108, yet ended the first innings with a lead of 55 after Serpentine was routed for just 53 in 20 overs in reply.
The Redbacks went to stumps at 2-22 in their second innings, ending a day in which 22 wickets tumbled for just 183 runs.
The dominance of the bowlers was led by Serpentine’s Harry Gadsden (7-34) and Arnold’s Ryan Metelmann (6-20), who continued his solid form with the ball.
Meanwhile, five wickets to Sam Barnes (5-16) and an unbeaten 65 from Scott Lawry set up a comfortable win for Dingee (1-107) against Bagshot (94) in the Northern United Cricket Association.
In other games, Calivil (1-108) had its first win of the season that wasn’t via forfeit against Raywood (7-105) and Colbinabbin (8-96) beat Goornong (95) to win its third game in a row.
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.