Saturday Sundries | Gallery | Runs galore as batters cash in across the region

This week was arguably the most entertaining round of cricket we have seen this summer, with a plethora of hundreds, inspirational bowling efforts and nail-biting finishes making for a pulsating slate of matches.

Below are some of the highlights from Saturday’s action you may have missed.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit attended the C-grade run-fest between Central Park-St Brendan’s and Old Students, capturing plenty of action along the way.

Runs, runs and more runs at Kialla Park

Those stationed around the boundary line at Kialla Park Reserve were ducking for cover on Saturday afternoon as Central Park-St Brendan’s and Old Students put on the ultimate run-fest.

Utilising the ‘‘postage stamp’’ dimensions of the Kialla back oval, the Tigers opened proceedings by smashing a whopping 3-354 from their 40 overs.

Harrison Baker started the onslaught, smashing 17 boundaries to reach 97 before he had his castle knocked over.

This then paved the way for Reza Kareem (108) to finish the job, as he entered Central Park folklore by smashing a trio of successive sixes to bring up a memorable hundred.

Faced with an almighty chase, Students did their best to take advantage of the batter-friendly conditions, producing some fireworks of their own.

These mainly came from the blade of number three Zac Bathman, who smashed 17 boundaries to finish with an unbeaten 107 and join Kareem as the game’s second centurion.

Bathman’s efforts would end up being in vain, however, as Students could only muster 3-254 from their 40 overs ‒ exactly 100 short of the Central Park total.

Collett’s magnificent seven leads Tatura to drought-breaking win

What did the first Test between India and Australia in Nagpur and Saturday afternoon’s Cricket Shepparton Clyde Young Shield battle between Tatura and Northerners at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve have in common?

While it might be hard to see any similarity, the crew at the News sports desk has managed to sniff one out.

And that is the fact that a Goulburn Valley cricket talent took seven wickets in both matches.

In Nagpur it was Moama maestro Todd Murphy who announced himself on the Test cricket scene with figures of 7-124 from 47 overs.

While back on home soil, James Collett produced arguably the best bowling effort seen in the association this season, taking 7-23 to see Tatura to its first B-grade win for 2022-23.

What made Collett’s efforts extra special was the manner in which his wickets came.

Tatura seemed set for yet another defeat at the afternoon tea break, after it was dismissed for 123.

But, similarly to the track in Nagpur, the wicket at Tallygaroopna had started to play some tricks and after teammate Baxter Plunkett took the first three scalps ‒ the stage was set for some Collett magic.

Challenging the batters with his expert lines and lengths, five of his seven wickets came from him shattering the stumps.

Operating non-stop from one end, in 7.4 overs he had managed to dismiss the remainder of the Jets’ batting line up, with his seventh and final scalp snapping a nine-game losing streak.

Arnold and Guppy trade blows in batting masterclass

On a Saturday afternoon filled with memorable knocks, the most devastating display of hitting came from the C-grade clash between Invergordon and Karramomus.

The protagonists of this big-hitting bonanza were Hawks number five Sean Arnold and Bloods stalwart Travis Guppy, who turned Vibert Reserve into their kingdom for the day with blistering hundreds.

Arnold was the first to play his hand, as he strode to the crease with his side in trouble at 3-28, and proceeded to send the Karra attack to all parts.

Striking a whopping 12 boundaries, Arnold’s 101 off 68 balls proved the perfect anchor for a big first innings total of 8-231.

Having seen the exploits of Arnold, Guppy came to the crease inspired and intent on batting his team to victory.

Finding the boundary on 13 occasions, Guppy mesmerised the Hawks’ attack to finish with a masterful 107.

Unfortunately for the Bloods skipper, his teammates could not go with him, as they were rolled for 195, 37 short of victory.

Blade of Black lifts Katandra to victory in high-scoring thriller

Classy, powerful, poised, game-changer ‒ there are a plethora of superlatives you can use to describe Katandra’s Mitchell Black’s innings against Central Park-St Brendan’s on Saturday afternoon.

A must-win match for the Eagles as they look to stay in the B-grade finals race, Black rose to the fore with a scintillating 106 to guide his team to a mammoth first innings total of 252.

Coming in at number three, Black absorbed the early pressure after his side lost two early wickets, before quickly getting on top of the Tigers’ attack.

Needing 120 balls to reach his three-figured score, Black found the boundary on 10 occasions as he mixed brute force with a delicate touch.

With the ball the Eagles were not quite as impressive, as they coughed up 226 to win by 25 runs in an entertaining contest.

Singh onslaught leaves Cats in tatters

A three-pronged Singh attack proved the perfect recipe for Murchison as it rolled Mooroopna for 77 on its way to a five-wicket C-grade win on Saturday.

Singh trio Jaskirat (3-24), Rajvir (3-12) and Sandeep (2-7) did the majority of the damage for the Hoppers, combining for eight key scalps in what was a bowling masterclass at Murchison Recreation Reserve.

The Singh boys were particularly devastating through the middle overs, as the Cats lost an astonishing 7-8 to stumble to the lowly total of 77.

The Hoppers’ batting unit then did the rest, combining beautifully to chase down the target in 19.2 overs.

Hogeboom blasts 24 boundaries in epic display of power hitting

Central Park-St Brendan’s batter Peter Hogeboom added his name to the weekend’s century-makers with a blistering 122 in the Tigers’ big D-grade win over Karramomus.

Coming in at number three, Hogeboom was quick to show his disdain for the Bloods’ bowling attack, and proceeded to send it to all parts of Vibert Reserve’s second oval.

The most incredible part of Hogeboom’s knock was his power, as he hit an incredible 21 fours and three sixes to bring up the second century of his career.

Hogeboom’s efforts also helped the Tigers to a big first innings score of 5-234, a total which it had no problem defending.