IT was a topsy-turvy second round for the Gisborne District Cricket Association.
In the Johnstone Shield, Kilmore has continued its stunning start, running down a target for the second week in succession, this time, 174 against Eynesbury at the Kilmore Cricket Ground.
Three wickets in quick succession after a 36-run start from Eynesbury allowed Kilmore to get into the contest, but despite having Eynesbury at 7/122, some late hitting allowed the Blues’ opponent to make 173.
Josh Squire and Ben Dawson were the pick of the bowlers, with Squire taking 3/27 off nine overs and Dawson 3/30 from nine.
When it came time to bat, it was Shaun Suttie who led from the front to give the Blues a good start, and his 54 helped anchor the Blues at the top of the order.
Despite that, Kilmore was still in trouble when it floundered to 7/121, with Suttie’s departure followed almost immediately by fellow experienced head Elliot Frendo.
However, Stuart Partridge and Dawson were the heroes, embarking on a 52-run partnership which helped seal the game for the Blues.
Partridge scored 34, while Dawson was unbeaten on 20, as the Blues maintained their unbeaten run.
Eastern Hill also remain unbeaten, with a terrific Benjamin Bryant century helping it to 6/226, and a 120-run victory over Harkness.
Bryant’s 113 off just 132 deliveries formed part of a 141-run partnership after Matthew Collard fell in the first over, while Billy Cox was also solid, scoring 47 off 69 balls.
Daniel O’Sullivan then finished off the job with the ball when Harkness came out to bat, taking 3/21 off 6.2 overs.
Lancefield fell desperately short of its first win, with East Sunbury winning by just one wicket.
Ned Budde’s 46 at the top of the order was critical in guiding the Tigers to 9/150, while they looked good when they had East Sunbury at 5/49.
However, the Tigers couldn’t quite find that final wicket to secure victory.
Cameron Osmond and Budde both took 2/15, while Harrison Lehner scored 2/22.
In McIntyre Cup, Wallan’s first home game was a battle against a strong Woodend team.
Bryan Vance helped keep the Magpies in the game for as long as he could, but when he fell for 48 off 58 deliveries, Woodend took over the game, bowling Wallan out for 118.
Wallan was given some hope early in the innings with one of the highlights of the weekend, Mitch Van De Duim taking a spectacular diving catch at mid-wicket to remove Joshua Eastley off the bowling of Steven Bell.
Despite Van De Duim taking a wicket himself to follow, Woodend was just too good, chasing down the target in 23 overs.
Broadford also struggled, with Rupertswood far too good at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Riley Nolan performed admirably at the top of the order, scoring 41 off 50 deliveries, while Braden Hickey battled hard, scoring 22 off 52, as Broadford finished 9/116 off 30.3 overs.
Unfortunately, Broadford simply didn’t have an answer to the batting of Rupertswood’s Kevin Barker, who scored 72 to help guide it to the target in 27 overs.
Hickey took Broadford’s sole wicket.
Despite a good fight from Chris Burkett, Romsey lost by an even 100 runs to Gisborne.
Romsey had no answers to the all-round batting of Gisborne’s middle order, with Taylor Stevenson and Daniel Paterson battling to take two wickets apiece.
Burkett put up a good fight to score 58 off 48 to help Romsey get to 4/144, but his dismissal sparked a collapse, before eventually bowing out for 186.
In Jensen Shield, Romsey scored a strong win, scoring 8/239 to beat Macedon by 147 runs, while Wallan fell short by two wickets at home to Trentham, despite a strong Robbie Fowler innings of 45 runs, and Caleb Brennan’s three wickets.
Kilmore was no match for Melton at LB Davern Reserve, losing by 78 runs.
Samuel Smith and Callum Peggie helped rescue the middle order with scores of 33 and 22 respectively as the Blues made 106, but it was never enough to chase down Melton’s 184, with Smith the pick of the bowlers with 2/47 off eight overs.
In the club grade competition, Wallan took a seven-wicket victory over Lancefield after bowling the Tigers out for 35, while Romsey also took the points by 19 runs over Eastern Hill in a tight game, 7/167 to 8/148.
Kilmore was no match for Malmsbury Green, scoring 5/125 to 3/208 at Barkly Square, while Broadford’s 4/192 was chased down by Malmsbury Gold with three overs to spare.
