Kieran Atkin’s status as one of the top batsmen in the Gisborne District Cricket Association has been reaffirmed after his century led Bacchus Marsh to a dominant win against Sunbury United on Saturday.
The Bulls’ 87-run win inflicted the first loss of the McIntyre Cup season on the reigning premier.
Atkin, who started his campaign with scores of 26 and 19, blazed 134 on Saturday as Bacchus Marsh won 6-216 to Sunbury United’s 129.
No other Bacchus Marsh batsman passed 30, with Atkin’s 77-run stand with Scott Wakefield (18) the biggest of the day.
PICTURE GALLERY: Bacchus Marsh v Sunbury United
Mark Hooper has shot to the top of the wicket-taking list after his second straight five-wicket haul (5-25) accounted for United’s middle order. Hooper’s first three wickets had United reeling at 6-45 before James Hughes’s 53 saved his team the embarrassment of a double-figure score.
At Riddell, Sunbury’s 6-182 was enough to inflict the first loss of the season on the Bombers, with the home team making 119 in reply.
At Greenhill Oval, visiting Woodend chased down Wallan’s 9-145 by making 4-148 with 10 balls to spare.
In the weekend’s other match, St Anthonys’ batting woes returned, with the home team out by the 21st over at Melton Recreation Reserve. St Anthonys made 73 with only Jeremy Hibbert (35) saving his team from an even lower score.
Gary Williams (4-38) and Lyndon Thompson (3-12) claimed best bowling figures for Romsey before the Redbacks knocked off 4-80 from 23 overs in reply.
Matches this weekend pit Romsey against Woodend, Sunbury against St Anthonys, Sunbury United against Riddell, and Wallan against Bacchus Marsh
In B-grade, Diggers Rest Bulla Village is unbeaten through three games after skittling St Anthonys’ second XI for 36.
Not everything went the Burras’ way, with openers Kade Richards (38) and Paul Deeble (53) falling in a 5-28 collapse that reduced Diggers Rest Bulla Village from 0-81 to 5-109.
But Shane McDonald (32) and Shannon McDorman (27no) steadied the innings as the Burras made 7-167. Rhys Berry (3-6), Shannon O’Keefe (2-7) and Lyndon Dowsett (2-10) shared the wickets as the Burras ripped through St Anthonys in 26.4 overs.
