Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BENDIGO United's Tom Batters relished his opportunity to step up and get a taste again of representative cricket last weekend.
Batters was the most dominant bowler in the VCCL's East v West All-Stars game played at the QEO last Sunday.
Playing for the East All-Stars, Batters bagged 5-27 off 8.4 overs to help his side to a six-wicket victory in the first of two All-Stars games to be played as a replacement for the cancelled Australian Country Cricket Championships and Melbourne Country Week carnival.
"It was a really good standard of cricket. I went over to Geraldton with the Vic Country team in 2018 (for the Australian Country Cricket Championships), but I haven't done much with the team since, so to get involved again you quickly realise it's that next step up," Batters said on Friday.
"It was a flat QEO pitch and a fast QEO outfield, so I knew I'd have to be tight with my line and lengths because as soon as you gave the batsmen any width or weren't quite on the mark you'd get dispatched.
"So I just tried to put a bit of pressure on the batsmen and slow the scoring down because when you do that you can create some chances and I was lucky enough to be able to do that."
Batters' five-for featured three caught, one bowled and one lbw.
I just tried to put a bit of pressure on the batsmen and slow the scoring down because when you do that you can create some chances and I was lucky enough to be able to do that
- Tom Batters
The 29-year-old was one of six Bendigo District Cricket Association players picked in the All-Star game, along with the Strathdale-Maristians' trio of Grant Waldron, Cameron Taylor and Jack Neylon, White Hills' Rhys Irwin and Sandhurst captain Joel Murphy.
Coming off his stellar bowling performance last Sunday, Batters will be back in action for Bendigo United on Saturday when the Redbacks host Sandhurst at Harry Trott Oval in round 11 of the BDCA.
The Dragons' top-order will need no reminding of the damage Batters is capable of inflicting with the white ball after he took three wickets in the first over of the match against Sandhurst earlier in round two.
While the Redbacks are on the bottom of the BDCA ladder, there are encouraging signs for the side following back-to-back wins over Bendigo and White Hills.
Batters has 14 wickets for the season.
SATURDAY'S EMU VALLEY, NORTHERN UNITED, UPPER LODDON CRICKET ASSOCIATION GAMES:
EMU VALLEY
ROUND 10
Saturday, 1pm
SEDGWICK v MANDURANG
Last time - Mandurang 0-209 def Sedgwick 4-204.
Since 2008 - Mandurang 8; Sedgwick 7.
Tip - Mandurang.
............................................
EMU CREEK v WEST BENDIGO
Last time - Emu Creek 5-96 def West Bendigo 92.
Since 2008 - Emu Creek 9; West Bendigo 5.
Tip - Emu Creek.
............................................
AXE CREEK v MARONG
Last time - Marong 6-207 def Axe Creek 49.
Since 2008 - Marong 8; Axe Creek 4.
Tip - Marong.
............................................
SPRING GULLY v UNITED
Last time - United 2-140 def Spring Gully 139.
Since 2008 - United 14; Spring Gully 7.
Tip - United.
............................................
LADDER:
1. United
Record: 6-1-1 Points: 78
2. Spring Gully
Record: 6-1-1 Points: 78
3. Emu Creek
Record: 6-1-1 Points: 78
4. Mandurang
Record: 4-3-1 Points: 54
5. Marong
Record: 3-4-1 Points: 42
6. Sedgwick
Record: 3-5-0 Points: 36
7. West Bendigo
Record: 2-5-1 Points: 30
8. California Gully
Record: 2-5-1 Points: 30
9. Axe Creek
Record: 0-7-1 Points: 6
............................................
LEADING RUNS:
458 - Rhys Webb
(Spring Gully)
357 - Marcus McKern
(California Gully)
302 - Greg Thomas
(Sedgwick)
272 - David Blume
(Marong)
270 - Broderick Williams
(United)
............................................
LEADING WICKETS:
15 - Kane Goldsworthy
(United)
14 - Greg Thomas
(Sedgwick)
13 - James Smith
(United)
12 - Jarrod Starr
(United)
12 - Tarran Kilcullen
(West Bendigo)
............................................
ADDY MVP LEADERS:
678 - Rhys Webb
(Spring Gully)
622 - Greg Thomas
(Sedgwick)
499 - Jordan Ilsley
(Sedgwick)
427 - Tyrone Downie
(Emu Creek)
398 - Simon Marwood
(Emu Creek)
NORTHERN UNITED
ROUND 8
Saturday, 1pm
Goornong v Elmore
Colbinabbin v Heathcote
Dingee v Calivil
............................................
LADDER:
1. Elmore
Record: 5-1-1 Points: 66
2. Colbinabbin
Record: 5-1-1 Points: 66
3. Dingee
Record: 3-3-1 Points: 42
4. Calivil
Record: 3-3-1 Points: 42
5. Goornong
Record: 2-4-1 Points: 30
6. Heathcote
Record: 0-6-1 Points: 6
............................................
LEADING RUNS:
211 - Matt Gilmour
(Elmore)
183 - Hamish Hooppell
(Colbinabbin)
164 - Fletcher White
(Goornong)
149 - David Dennis
(Calivil)
142 - Tyler Oliver
(Elmore)
............................................
LEADING WICKETS:
10 - Steven King
(Dingee)
8 - Hamish Hooppell
(Colbinabbin)
8 - Andrew Nisbet
(Dingee)
7 - Brian Dwyer
(Colbinabbin)
7 - David Price
(Colbinabbin)
UPPER LODDON
ROUND 9
Saturday, 1.30pm
Newbridge v Kingower
Boort-Yando v Bridgewater
Arnold v Wedderburn
............................................
LADDER:
1. Kingower
Record: 6-1-1 Points: 39
2. Arnold
Record: 5-2-1 Points: 33
3. Bridgewater
Record: 5-2-1 Points: 33
4. Wedderburn
Record: 3-4-1 Points: 21
5. Boort-Yando
Record: 2-5-1 Points: 15
6. Newbridge
Record: 0-7-1 Points: 3
............................................
LEADING RUNS:
391 - Braydon Welsh
(Kingower)
234 - Tas Fitzallen
(Newbridge)
210 - Ryan Metelmann
(Arnold)
196 - Jarrod Hodoras
(Boort-Yando)
187 - Phil Scholes
(Arnold)
............................................
LEADING WICKETS
14 - Nick Leach
(Kingower)
13 - Lachlan Peters
(Wedderburn)
13 - Cameron Dale
(Arnold)
12 - Eathan Collins
(Newbridge)
11 - Ryan Metelmann
(Arnold)
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Bendigo Advertiser, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Bendigo's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.