Hayden Castle set a batting record, but his team, Riddell, spent a long day in the field as St Anthonys avoided an outright defeat in McIntyre Cup on Saturday.
Castle had hit 209 unbeaten the previous weekend and didn’t need long to break the Gisborne District Cricket Association record as he moved to 220no, leading his club to 4-399 declared.
St Anthonys scored at just 1.2 an over but preserved its wickets long enough to keep Riddell toiling with the ball.
Darren McRae (42) and Adam Fleming (22) took St Anthonys to 99, a 300-run loss but at no risk of outright defeat.
The big win keeps Riddell (30 points, 2.0 per cent) on top of the ladder on percentage from Sunbury (30, 1.1 per cent).
Sunbury wobbled early in its chase against Wallan but one solid partnership was enough to guide the chase to 5-160, beating 9-155.
Bacchus Marsh (24) is third after a big win against Romsey.
Defending 7-280 made the previous weekend, Bacchus Marsh had Romsey following on as the Redbacks were all-out 77 in just 42 overs. Romsey’s second dig of 4-110 at stumps staved off outright defeat. Rhys Watson, with, 4-30, was the best of the Bacchus Marsh bowlers.
In the weekend’s other match, Sunbury United (18, 1.0 per cent) moved to within percentage of fourth-placed Woodend (18, 1.3 per cent) after a 48-run win at Langama Park.
In B-grade, Diggers Rest Bulla Village (9-284) was a comfortable victor over Rupertswood (117). Darren Quarrell was the Burras’ best with 6-37.
Twenty20 starts tonight with a Melton-versus-Moorabool clash in premier division.
St Anthonys will host Bacchus Marsh at Melton Recreation Reserve from 5.30pm.
Diggers Rest Bulla Village will play its first district division clash away at Goonawarra Recreation Reserve against East Sunbury, also starting at 5.30pm.
