AN enthralling Saturday of cricket was sadly washed out, with plenty of intrigue over many games thwarted due to the weather.
Wallan’s clash with Broadford at Greenhill Reserve brought with it great intrigue, with the Magpies looking to score their second straight win to perhaps move into the top four, while Broadford was still looking for its first win.
Broadford’s Nathan Woods was on fire early, taking two quick wickets and bowling spectacularly well.
However, Wallan soon responded. Bryan Vance and Hamish Mullavey-Clark put on 67 runs for the third wicket to zoom past 100, but that was ended when Braden Hickey combined well with Broadford’s new recruit, Iezaz Ul Hassan, to dismiss Vance for 37.
Mullavey-Clark passed 50 as Wallan looked to finish off a job well done, but he was dismissed for 63 after being bowled by Jeremy Bradshaw.
Late in the innings, Matthew Clayton passed 50 in an entertaining knock which included three fours and two sixes as Wallan finished on 4/221.
Romsey’s match with Woodend at Romsey Park was similarly abandoned.
Romsey fielded first, but it was Woodend who kept making runs at will, with all of Woodend’s top four passing 30 runs as the score was 4/210 before rain stopped play.
Four players took wickets for Romsey, with Tim Dale leading the way with 1/17.
Johnstone Shield also saw some intriguing matches washed out.
Dale Tassone made a spectacular 91 for Kilmore as he put the team on his back, scoring 10 fours and a six at Eric Boardman Oval to guide the Blues to 9/172.
Together with Shaun Suttie, the duo made 98 runs for the opening wicket partnership as Tassone attacked the game, while Suttie was a good anchor at the other end as he scored 24 runs.
Like most others, Victoria’s rain prevented what would have been an intriguing target to defend for Kilmore.
Eastern Hill was able to get its innings underway as it attempted to chase Eynesbury’s 8/138.
Benjamin Bryant was the star for the Eagles with the ball, conceding just 18 runs from nine overs while taking three critical wickets, while Oscar Newell took 2/29.
Despite losing the early wicket of Matthew Collard for 11, Eastern Hill got to 1/14 before rain stopped play.
Lancefield had a big target to chase against Diggers Rest Bulla Village, needing a further 238 to win before the rain set in.
Ned Budde and Trent McNamara took two wickets apiece for the Tigers as Diggers Rest made 6/247.
Remarkably, Broadford and Wallan completed the McIntyre Cup seconds’ meeting at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Wallan batted first, with Chase Fowler (31) and Zac Bell (32) providing a good stand at the top of the order after losing Beau Fowler early.
Bradley Regan (22), Troy Jeffs (21) and Josh Cumberland (25) also scored above 20 to get the Magpies to 7/165.
Joshua Hanna led the way for Broadford with the ball, taking 2/15, while Jake Lovell took 1/21.
With Broadford looking for a second win in a row, Connor Stute provided some good hitting at the top of the order, scoring 30 runs off 27 deliveries.
Despite losing four quick wickets to sit 4/52, Broadford found steadying innings in Ashley Wood and Taylor Shell, with the duo putting on 69 runs for the fifth wicket.
Shell would fall for 31, while Wood fell short of a second straight 50, stumped on 44.
Harrison Wood and Michael Mirabella would guide Broadford home for a second straight win, moving up to fifth on the table.
No Johnstone Shield meetings were completed.
Kilmore looked set for a big total against Sunbury at the Kilmore Cricket Ground, with Steven Burns looking for all money like a centurion as he sat on 84 not out off 89 deliveries, but the rain stopped those plans with Kilmore 2/181 off 32 overs.
Eastern Hill held out long enough for a draw in dramatic fashion against Eynesbury.
Ben Brown took 2/19 and Riley Graham 2/20 as Eynesbury made 5/165, but Eastern Hill had difficulty in response, with the Eagles losing a constant stream of wickets to sit 9/95 before the rain saved them.
Lancefield, too, was saved from almost certain defeat.
The Tigers could only muster 71, with Diggers Rest 1/29 in response.
In the Jensen Shield competition, Wallan was bowled out for 135 against Sunbury United.
Archie Connors batted well to make 45, while Chris Masters’ 17 and Arham Batra’s 16 provided some more fight late in the innings.
Kilmore played Melton South, with the Blues bowling and leaving Melton South 6/169 before the stoppage.
Glen Fairweather took 2/50 off eight overs.
Broadford defeated Wallan in the Club Grade North by nine wickets at Broadford High School.
Wallan had a number of starters who couldn’t quite go on with it, with Jason Dodd (29), Luke Bradley (24) and Dave Curran (25) all scoring well, while Barkley Jackson (22) and Kerry Munday (38) provided some late hitting to get Wallan to 8/165.
Clancy Barry (3/34) and Austin Withers (3/40) led the way with the ball for Broadford.
Broadford soon chased down the target with genuine ease, with Christopher Still and Jesse Jones both making their 50s before being retired not out.
Paul Withers (18) and Andrew Pope (15) finished the job as Broadford was 1/166 off just 25.5 overs.
Kilmore’s clash with Romsey was abandoned at LB Davern Reserve, with Romsey sitting at 5/158. Timothy Peggie was enjoying a strong patch with the ball for the Blues, taking 3/20 off seven overs, while Brendan Norris scored well for Romsey, top scoring with 43.
Eastern Hill lost a thriller against Hanging Rock, missing out by just one wicket as Hanging Rock chased down a target of 122.
Timothy Hanson top scored for the Eagles with 34, while William Schaeffer-Steel kept the Eagles in it with 4/35 off six overs.
