Tallarook cricketer Leigh Irving broke into the 100-run club in Saturday’s Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, A Grade match with an impressive 112 against Avenel in front of a home crowd.
The ‘Rook had a 202-run win over an undermanned Avenel, smashing 2/258 off 45 overs. In reply, Avenel posted 8/56 from 18.
Tallarook won the toss and elected to bat with opening batsman Joshua Rudge and captain Lachlan Watts putting on a partnership of 61 runs – including two sixes by Rudge – before the partnership of Kalon Winnell and Irving hit the crease.
Irving’s impressive effort saw him hit three sixes and 10 fours on his run to a century, alongside a solid effort by Winnell, who made half a century of his own.
Tallarook coach Andrew Dundon said Irving had a few close chances of making centuries prior to his 112-run effort at the weekend.
“Leigh got his first club hundred after being stranded in the 80s a few times. Saturday was the day for him to get on the board for his first hundred,” he said.
“It was probably helpful for Leigh to have Kalon there – Kal is good at turning the strike over and has a lot of awareness about the game so he knew the situation.
“He got himself a 50 as well so those guys batted really well together at the start.
“That set us up and set the tone for the day. Obviously when you post a big score like that everyone can get up and about.”
Tallarook’s bowlers were consistent with Xavier Arandt, Shane Topham and Tarkyn Dundon each taking two wickets.
Dundon said the efficient bowling allowed the younger players to have a chance to snag some wickets for themselves.
“My two boys are actually playing with us as well so it’s pretty cool to play alongside them. They’re a part of the young crew that have been working pretty hard with our fielding and our bowling lately and they’re the ones that sort of did the work,” Dundon said.
“Young Xav Arandt got himself a few wickets and bowled really tight and Tarkyn came on and also bowled really well and really tight.
“He also got himself a run out so just attacking the ball in the field and hitting the stumps, which is something we’ve been really working on hard because those sorts of things can win you a game of cricket.”
With the sixes flying, the home crowd were keen to see if any could hit the Central Commissioning and Testing sign and snag $500.
Dundon said it was close but nobody had hit it yet.
“I think it’s just going to be one of those shots where someone will miss-hit and hit the sign rather than aiming for it,” he said.
“It brings a lot of people around and it makes people get excited about the possibility of hitting the sign. I’m sure it will get hit but I’m just not sure when.”
In other SDCA A Grade matches, Pyalong 4/170 defeated Yea Tigers 8/118 in 28 overs.
Pyalong won the toss and elected to bat first with Daniel Sowden and Mitchell Ryan sharing a 50-run partnership to open the batting.
Captain Jamie Pryor came in at first drop to join Sowden to each make half centuries.
The game was put on a brief hold after Tigers player Andrew Bree suffered a suspected broken collarbone injury.
Coach Matthew Wilkins said it was an unfortunate incident to happen.
“That wasn’t a positive incident but these things happen,” he said.
Brothers Anthony and Matthew Pratt opened Pyalong’s bowling, but it was Jason Ryan’s day with the ball.
“Matty and his brother Anthony both bowled tight,” Wilkins said.
“Jason Ryan took a five for, I think, 45 – he was probably the best bowler for the lot.
“Everyone else chipped in with one sort of across the board but for our purpose Ryan was great.”
Seymour was the only home side unable to get the win this week, going down to Eastern Hill. In a one-sided match, Seymour was bowled out for 38 in 20.5 overs, as Eastern Hill made 107 in 40.1.
All sides have this weekend off before returning for round four on November 11.
