By Tara Murray
Andrew Cristofaro’s rich vein of form with the bat has continued for Melton Centrals.
After smashing 157 in Centrals previous match against Jacana to help his side claim an outright victory, Cristofaro was in the thick of the action again on Saturday against Barkly Street Uniting in their Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield division 5 clash.
Cristofaro smashed 214 as Centrals made 8-435 from their overs.
Centrals captain-coach Adam Hulett said watching Cristofaro in full flight was a fine sight.
Saturday’s knock was the second time in successive matches he topped his previous highest score.
“He’s hit nearly 400 runs in two weeks,” Hulett said.
“The first two or three matches, he didn’t get many runs, but we knew that he wasn’t far away.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to watch … bowlers struggle to bowl to him.”
Against Jacana, Cristofaro was the only batsman to get beyond 20.
By contrast, against Barkly Street Uniting he had plenty of mates chipping in – something reflected in the massive score.
Hulett said the openers put on 104 for the first partnership, Connor Poulton scoring 26 and Matthew Goatley, promoted up the order due to an unavailability, hitting 78.
“There were a couple more 30s and 40s, but most of the time we were just trying to get Cristofaro on strike,” Hulett said.
With Barkly Street Uniting sitting one place below Centrals on the ladder, Hulett knows they will need to buckle down to get the win.
He said they would look to get the first innings points sewn up before considering anything else.
A win would continue a good start to the season for Centrals, who sit second.
Hulett said the side was benefitting from player depth.
“Players have been available,” he said. “We had a lot of players out in the first half of last year. We struggled to get that consistency we needed.”
Melton South Royals are also looking on track for another win.
Facing Gellibrand, the Royals made 263, bowled out in the 61st over.
Gellibrand was 4-47 at stumps.
In Charles Clark Shield division 4, Caroline Springs is in control against St Andrews.
Caroline Springs is 1-39 in reply to
|St Andrews’ 112.
Sydenham-Hillside is 0-5 in reply to Williamstown Congs’ 203.
In the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition, Melton Centrals slipped to third in the north-west B T20 competition heading into the final round after losing to Coburg.
Centrals made 1-123 with the Keenan sisters, Erin (48no) and Tara (32) doing most of the damage. Coburg had little trouble getting the runs, finishing 0-127 off 14.5.
Centrals need to win in the final round, and hope Coburg loses, to have a shot at progressing to the grand final.
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