Broadford’s Ash Wood returned for his first A Grade match of the Seymour District Cricket Association 2022-23 season, and celebrated with a century.
Wood made 113 runs, including 17 fours, in Broadford’s win against Seymour at Harley Hammond Reserve.
His and Gareth Sharp’s opening partnership of 145 set up the home side, who went on to score 6/302 at the conclusion of 45 overs.
Sharp’s 94 featured 16 boundaries and one big ‘six’ off 80 balls to delight the home crowd.
In reply, Seymour made a total of 134, with Jason Brown top scoring with 47.
The best of the Broadford bowlers were Jeremy Bradshaw taking 4/17 off six overs and Aaron Altham with 3/15.
Wood had only played a handful games in C grade with his son Harrison this season before returning to the A Grade side who had a few players unavailable to play at the weekend.
Broadford Cricket Club’s Lee McKenzie, who also returned to A Grade on Saturday, said Sharp and Wood’s opening partnership was a highlight to watch.
“Gareth batted really well and Ash took a back seat for a while until Gareth was dismissed,” he said.
“Ash hasn’t played a lot of cricket this season but it didn’t show – he was exceptional.”
It was Wood’s fifth century for the Broadford Cricket Club.
“I haven’t looked in the club’s record books yet but I would say that [five centuries] would be a record for our club,” McKenzie said.
Broadford hosted a meeting with its members on Wednesday to discuss which competition the club would play in next season – remain in the Seymour District Cricket Assocation or move to Gisborne District competitions.
McKenzie said members would vote on the issue, with votes to be lodged before March 1.
In the other A grade match of round 17, top side Eastern Hill easily accounted for Yea Tigers.
The Tigers were all out for 71, with an even share of the wickets between Jake Sutherland, 3/14, Ben Bryant 2/10, Tim Rudd-Schmidt 2/10, and Daniel O’Sullivan 2/21,
Playing at Bennett Oval, their home ground this season, Eastern Hill replied with 80, only losing one wicket.
Dallas Bergowicz, 35 not out, and Bryant, 32 not out, were the top scorers.
With only two rounds left of the season, Eastern Hill remain on top, ahead of Tallarook, Broadford, Yea Tigers and Seymour.
Round 18 action on Saturday will feature the top two teams with Eastern Hill hosting Tallarook, while in the other match Seymour will play Yea Tigers.
