READ MORE - ROUND TWO PREVIEW
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KANGAROO Flat's Chris Barber plundered the Bendigo District Cricket Association's first century of the season with a whirlwind knock that set the Roos on the path to a score of 386 against White Hills on Saturday.
Barber carved up the Demons' attack at Scott Street, crunching 109 off just 100 balls as the Roos ended the day with a mammoth 6-386 - their highest score since the 2005-06 season.
Barber kept his running to a minimum - of his 109 runs, 82 came through a mix of fours (19) and sixes (one).
His first 50 runs featured 10 boundaries and one six, while he had a stroke of luck when he brought up his century after a dropped catch from the Demons' new English wicket-keeper Oliver Forbes, who only arrived in Australia on Friday, went flying for four.
Dylan Bailie (1-47) copped the brunt of Barber early when his opening over went for 17 runs.
With the two Barber brothers - Chris and Daniel (35) - opening the batting, the Roos raced to 0-120 off 20 overs and by tea were 3-195 off 50 overs.
They then added another 191 runs off 35 overs after the break in what was an entertaining innings that also featured a knock of 75 from veteran Adam Burns, who again tormented the Demons with the bat, and unbeaten 55 from recruit Josh Collinson in a solid bounce-back from his duck on debut.
All up, the Roos struck 54 boundaries and three sixes in their innings, leaving the Demons with a monumental task next Saturday to avoid a 0-2 start.
Rhys Irwin (2-79) and Jack Bourke (2-83) took two wickets each for the Demons, while Linc Jacobs had a heavy workload, sending down 32 overs for 1-104.
STRATHFIELDSAYE v HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM
Teenage leg-spinner Darcy Hunter had a day to remember for Strathfieldsaye, bagging a five-wicket haul against the reigning premiers.
In only his third first XI game 16-year-old Hunter spun his way to 5-48 off 16.4 overs as the Jets bowled Huntly-North Epsom out for 161 at Tannery Lane.
Hunter took his first wicket in his opening over when he broke the Power's only partnership of significance by removing Danushka Wijemanna (44) before adding Joel Logan (5), Lewis Stabler (0), Tharindu Darshana (16) and Mitch Whittle (0) to his scalps.
Hunter wasn't the only Jets' spinner who caused problems for the Power, with left-armer Savith Priyan claiming 3-16 off 20 overs, including nine maidens.
Priyan, who also took two catches, now has 5-22 from 27 overs across the first two rounds in what has been an economical start to his season.
The key stand of the Power innings was the 81 Wijemanna and Sandun Ranathunga (46) put on for third wicket between the 12th and 39th overs.
The Power's defence has started on a strong note, with the Jets going to stumps at 2-17. Openers Zoltan Smyth (9) and Marc Sherwell (0) are both out.
STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS v EAGLEHAWK
Strathdale-Maristians' envious batting depth lifted the Suns to 321 against Eaglehawk at Bell Oval.
The Suns had been 8-254 before their last two wickets combined to add 67 through Jacob DeAraugo (34), recruit Chris Sole (23) and Ryan Haythorpe (10 n.o.).
Earlier, openers James Vlaeminck (59) and Cameron Taylor (48) shared in a 111-run stand for the first wicket, while the Hawks were well and truly under the pump at tea with the Suns' 2-175 off 45 overs.
However, the Hawks did a fine job post the break of reigning the Suns back in, with the home side losing 4-28 shortly after the resumption to fall to 6-203.
Josh Williams took three of those four wickets to fall, including Jack Neylon, who clubbed five sixes and three fours in his brisk 50 off 39.
Daniel Clohesy (30) and Linton Jacobs (32) also ticked the runs over for the Suns, who if they are looking for an omen also made 321 against the Hawks at Bell Oval in round two of their 2014-15 premiership season.
Williams (4-69) and Nick Farley (3-50) combined for seven wickets for the Hawks, who fell well short of their target on Sunday when dismissed for 135.
All-rounder Taylor snared his 20th career haul of at least five wickets for the Suns with 5-26 off 21.2 overs, including 10 maidens, trapping three of his victims lbw.
Sam Johnston claimed the first three wickets to fall on his way to 3-36 off 11 overs, while Jacob DeAraugo (2-18) picked up the other two.
The Hawks had been 8-75 before a 50-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Farley (36 n.o.) and Angus Chisholm (23).
The game was played as a Saturday-Sunday encounter due to next Saturday's On The Wing Festival at Canterbury Park.
SANDHURST v BENDIGO UNITED
Captain Miggy Podosky and Billy Quirk snared four wickets apiece as Bendigo United dismissed Sandhurst for 206 at Weeroona Oval.
Medium-pacer Quirk was up and about from the outset, already having 3-13 from his first 20 deliveries before finishing with 4-43 off 13 overs.
Podosky claimed 4-59 off 17 overs, while Adrian Cronin made the most of his chance to take the gloves behind the stumps with four catches.
The Dragons had a 102-run stand between captain Taylor Beard and Ben Leed to thank for at least having 200 on the board to defend next week.
Beard compiled his highest score for the Dragons with 86 off 139 that featured eight fours and one six, while Leed provided solid support with 41.
The Dragons had been 5-183 before their last five wickets tumbled for just 23 runs to be all out in the 79th over.
BENDIGO v GOLDEN SQUARE
Golden Square will be relying on a strong performance with the ball if it's to beat Bendigo after capitulating late at Atkins Street.
Square had been 4-171 before losing 6-21 to be all out for 192 in the 77th over.
All-rounder Kyle Humphrys (3-50) took three of the last six wickets to fall for the Goers, while Square youngster Tom Campbell (26 n.o.) was left stranded after more than two hours and 163 balls at the crease that started with his side 3-83.
Captain Liam Smith's 49 was the top score for Golden Square, while No.3 Kyle Chant made 44 against his former side.
STEPIEN CENTURY FOR BLUES
Former White Hills player Brayden Stepien was in fine touch for Carlton with a century in Saturday's second round of Premier Cricket.
The hard-hitting opener scored 128 off 144 balls in the Blues' 29-run win over Melbourne University.
Stepien struck nine boundaries and three sixes before being run out in the one-day clash.
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