Rain impacted round eight of the Seymour District Cricket Association, SDCA, with the Pyalong and Tallarook match ending in a draw due to the rain.
After electing to bat, Tallarook lost the wicket of Andrew Dundon, out for a duck, at 1/13 before captain Lachlan Watts made 48 runs.
With Thomas Archibald out, Tallarook’s run rate slowed to be 3/110.
But the ‘Rook got back on track – putting on another 102 runs largely thanks to the efforts of Joshua Rudge.
Rudge had a huge innings making 109 runs – his first senior century – supported on the scoreboard by Leigh Irving who made half a century before he was bowled.
Pyalong captain Jamie Pryor said the side lost its chance to get Rudge out early.
“We had chances early. We dropped Rudge in the third over and he went on with it. Just shows you need to take your chances when they come or the score can get away from you quickly,” he said.
Pyalong’s Mitchell Wittig took 2/28 and Matthew Pratt 3/46.
Tallarook finished the innings 5/248 as the rain came down at the change of innings.
Tallarook captain Lachlan Watts said the side set the challenge for Pyalong.
“We put a big total on the board, which was always going to be difficult to chase down,” he said.
“Josh Rudge was phenomenal. It’s his first A Grade ton and the first of many ahead we hope.
“He played a really mature innings, patient when he needed to be but also getting after the bad balls.
“Leigh provided some great support and it was great to have Dale Short back and hitting a few around at the end.”
Six overs were lost in the delay meaning Tallarook needed to bowl Pyalong out in 39 overs to claim the win and Pyalong had to make the runs to win – anything else would result in a draw.
Despite Tallarook managing to have Pyalong 4/54, the visitors were unable to bowl out the home side and the game ended in a draw.
Pyalong finished its 39 overs with Sean Walsh on an unbeaten 22.
Pryor said it was a frustrating day.
“We were the ones on the lucky side of the weather. Credit to [Tallarook] batters – chasing 250 is a big ask on a dry day, so when you have an opportunity to pinch some points against one of the strong sides in the comp, you have to fight it out as best you can,” he said.
“We didn’t do a heap wrong with the ball really in my opinion – we just came across some very good batters.
“Mitch Wittig bowled well in the middle, keeping it tight even though we had two set batters in at the time.”
Watts said it was unfortunate the weather ended the game early.
“Unfortunately the rain shortened Pyalong’s innings and we couldn’t run through them,” he said.
“They put up the wall and full credit to them for batting out the overs left after the rain.
“We’re looking forward to next week and hopefully finishing on a high before the break.”
Around the grounds, Alexandra 10/172, off 42.5 overs defeated Avenel 10/79, off 28.4 overs, while Eastern Hill remain undefeated with a win over Yea, 9/153 to 10/82.
In the final SDCA round before the Christmas break, Tallarook play Yea at home, Seymour host Alexandra, Avenel play Eastern Hill at Seymour, and Pyalong start its break early with a bye.
