An unbeaten 177 from Kevin Craddock has put Kilmore in the box seat in Johnstone Shield action of the Gisborne District Cricket Association.
Kilmore made 9/339 on its home turf in a two-day match against Kyneton.
Supported Ash Lovick, 38, and Jacob Walton, 36, there was no doubt it was Craddock’s day.
The opening batsmen was the crease for the duration of play on day one – 75 overs, batting with all 10 of his teammates.
Kilmore captain Josh Buttler descibred Craddock’s innings as ‘phenomenal’.
“He was absolutely amazing,” he said.
“From start to finish, he was just hitting boundaries for fun.”
Craddock hit more than 25 boundaries in his innings.
It was Craddock’s second century this season.
“He’s been our best batsman all year – and showed it in a game that we desperately need to win,” Buttler said.
In the final round of competition before finals, Buttler said his side had set themselves up well to defend a strong total this weekend.
“If we win, we’ll make finals, and we could even get to second, but that depends on other results so that’s out of our hands,” he said.
The best of Kyneton’s bowlers were Hayden Ingleton with 5/58, Lachlan Sheahan 2/40, and Nick Tunzi 2/45.
In the final round of the GIsborne association’s premier competition, the McIntyre Cup, Romsey look on the way to scoring a win over East Sunbury.
After declaring at 7/248, Romsey then sent East Sunbury into bat and had them 4/57 at the end of day one’s play.
Tim Dale with 63 was the top-scorer for Romsey, ably supported by Matthew Milne, 46, Nathan Hoy, 39, and Adam Frost, 37.
Romsey’s Corey Day has picked up two wickets, for 16 runs, as the visitors look to rip through the home side’s batting order on Saturday.
Romsey currently sits fourth on the ladder, but could move up to third, depending on the Bacchus Marsh versus Diggers Rest Bulla result.
In other McInytre Cup games, Wallan made 8/209 against Sunbury Kangaroos with half centuries from Spencer Whittingham, 56, and Russell Whittingham, 51.
In Seymour District Cricket Association’s A Grade action, Tallarook scored a win over Eastern Hill.
Playing at Bennett Oval in Seymour, Tallarook made 9/138, with highlights from Leigh Irving’s 39 and Josh Rudge’s 36.
Opening bowler Ben Bryant, 3/18, Jake Sutherland, 3/21, and Daniel O’Sullivan, 2/30, did the damage for Eastern Hill.
However the reigning premiers could not get going with the bat in what should have been an achievable run-chase, ending on 9/137.
Other than Sutherland’s 32 not out, no other Eastern Hill batsmen scored more than 20 as the Tallarook bowlers shared the wickets.
Shane Topham’s 3/47, Irving’s 2/21 and Xavier Arandt’s 2/21 were enough for Tallarook to claim a one-run victory, and they now sit on equal points on the ladder with Eastern Hill.
In the other A Grade match, Yea Tigers 7/139 defeated Seymour 9/138.
This Saturday is the final round of SDCA action, where Broadford will travel to Yea and Seymour host Tallarook, while Eastern Hill has a bye.
