Cessnock District Cricket recommenced on Saturday after the Christmas/New Year break, with four fourth grade centuries the highlight in a weekend of batting dominance.
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At Miller 2 Bellbird number five batsman Craig Howson smashed 16 boundaries and five maximums on his way to 120 out of a team total of 233, but unfortunately this was not enough to get his side home as Greta/Branxton Blue number five batsman Craig Gillings steered his side to victory with seven boundaries and 10 maximums on his way to an unbeaten 102.
At Turner Park Peden’s Hotel opener Tom Lantry smashed 14 boundaries and cleared the fence on four occasions in his innings of 108 out of his team total of 163, while at Laguna Greta/Branxton White number four batsman Jesse Minchin clubbed 11 boundaries and seven maximums in a fine innings of 121.
In first grade the log jam at the top of the ladder continues, with just the lonesome point separating first, second and third.
Mulbring recorded their seventh win of the season although they did not get it all their own way in their 33-run win against a winless but gallant Wine Country at Mulbring Oval.
Batting first the home side posted a very healthy 223, with Brad Strachan leading the way with 62. Andy Carmichael (32), Nigel Callan (30), Mick Mascord (23) and Josh Lewis (19) cashed in on the perfect batting conditions, while in a trying day for the Wine Country bowlers it was Nathan Davey (3-47 off 10), Luke Jeans (3-42 off seven) and Nathan Wright (2-22 off 5) who bowled relatively tidy spells considering the conditions.
The Wood Ducks made a fair fist of the run chase, eventually bowled out in the 39th over for 190. Ryan Maxwell (50) timed the ball nicely in a well-made half century, with Wright (30), Bryce Morley (30), Matt Lightfoot (24) and Jeans (14) all keeping the visitors in the contest.
For the Marlins Lachlan McBeth (2-28 off seven), Strachan (2-29 off 6.3), Greg Sheehan (2-32 off nine) and Callan (2-45 off four) all took a brace of wickets each.
At East End Bellbird remained in equal second position after recording a fairly comfortable five-wicket victory over fourth-placed Peden’s Hotel.
Peden’s Hotel batted first but managed just 114 after being bowled out inside 26 overs. Opener Peter Brennan once again played a lone hand scoring 72 of these, with Beau Lewis next best with 10.
Dave Gyler was the best of the Bellbird attack with 5-19 off 7.2 very good overs, with Scott Miller (3-39 off eight) and Matt Tomlinson (2-33 off six) the others to take wickets.
The Tigers passed the target in the 26th over with five wickets in hand, with Jason Orr making sure all players were not spending any more time in the heat than they had to with an unbeaten 82, receiving good support from Rob Drage (20). Anthony Lindner was the best of the Piranhas attack with 4-30 off 10.
In the final game of the round Greta/Branxton maintained their narrow lead at the top of the ladder with what looked like a fairly convincing 104-run victory over Supporters Club at Baddeley Park, however things were not looking so rosy at the start of the match.
The Blues were sent in to bat by Goannas skipper Ryan Eagles, and this bold decision looked to work wonders with the competition leaders reeling at 4-28 after 10 overs.
This brought to the crease Greg Andrews who showed glimpses of old before being trapped plum in from LBW for 34. Then a match winning 119-run sixth wicket partnership between genuine all-rounder Brent Watson (85) and Dylan Lipscombe (65) got the visitors well and truly out of trouble.
Club veteran and number one fill-in man Peter MacKenzie came in at number nine and noodled the ball around nicely for 35 no, with the Blues amassing 8-268 from their 40 overs. Tim Goldman was the best of the Supporters attack with 3-33 off nine, receiving good support from opening partner Nathan Stapleford who took 2-54 off 10.
In reply the Goannas looked set for a massive upset and were well on target at the drinks break at 3-131, but the interval proved to be their Achilles heel as they were all out shortly after for 164. Stapleford capped a fine all-round game with 74, receiving good support from skipper Eagles (38).
Lipscombe was easily the best of the Greta/Branxton attack with a match winning 4-17 off six to go with his 65 earlier in the day. Skipper Josh Dagg took the ball in a depleted attack, and even his leg breaks were very apologetic, bagging 2-30 off six.
SECOND GRADE
Bellbird 8/207 (C. Schumacher 79, D. Condran 38, W. Attewell 32no, A. Sweeney 2-32) defeated Peden’s Hotel 80 (O. Kemp 34, S. Tyne 18, C. Schumacher 5-8 off 5).
Mulbring 2/100 (L. King 43, S. Clarke 34, A. Sheehan 18no, M. Staib 2-44 off 6) defeated Wine Country 97 (A. Field 29, M. Staib 23, J. McMichael 16, D. Lord 3-11 off 5, C. Wyborn 3-11 off 3).
Supporters 150 (J. Brown 57, L. Morris 34, J. Morris 17, P. Aughey 5-26 off 4, D. Austin 3-35 off 10, A. Partridge 2-30 off 9) defeated Greta/Branxton (109 (C. Kedwell 31, C. Lawrence 27, B. Dries 15, J. Morris 4-18 off 6, T. Balladen 3-20 off 7, Z. Sneesby 2-34 off 7.1).
THIRD GRADE
Bellbird 7/100 (Richard Done 29, Kyle Gogerley 28, Brett Hindmarsh 2-25, Ryan Hindmarsh 2-30) defeated Peden’s Hotel 99 (Ryan Hindmarsh 42no, Brett Hindmarsh 15, S. Sweeney 14, Joe Barber 3-24, Kyle Gogerly 3-40, Pat Cagney 2-19).
Paxton 0/73 (A. Zechel 35, B. Reed 25) defeated Wine Country 66 (Jason Spence 18, G. Oakes 12, A. Zechel 4-9 off 5, B. Reed 3-19 off 6, B. Hayes 2-18 off 5).
Supporters 3/146 (R. O’Connell 67no, S. Minter 42no, J. Harvey 15) defeated Greta/Branxton 9/135 (B. Jones 43, K. Akhurst 17no, J. Grant 17, B. Irvine 5-20 off 5).
FOURTH GRADE
Greta/Branxton Blue 4/241 (C. Gillings 102no, K. Wilkinson 52, V. Mahlhotra 26, J. Wilkinson 23no, B. Lahey 16, S. Ingram 2-68 off 10, C. Howson 2-69 off 10) defeated Bellbird 233 (C. Howson 120, S. Anderson 48, S. Palmer 30, A. Walkling 2-29 off 6, A. Wilkinson 2-30 off 5).
Laguna 2/203 (K. Barnett 71no, E. Smith 43, C. Howe 27no, D. Jackson 26) defeated Greta/Branxton White 3/197 (J. Minchin 121, D. Minchin 64no).
Peden’s Hotel 163 (Tom Lantry 108, T. Woods 2-19 off 6, T. Payne 2-13 off 4, M. Goldman 2-12 off 3) defeated Supporters Black 69 (T. Payne 15, D. Grills 5-11 off 5.3, D. Lambkin 3-20 off 4).
Mulbring 135 (D. Young 52, P. Cook 28, J. Sweeney 3-18 off 5, J. Jackson 2-30 off 4, L. Sweeney 2-15 off 3) defeated Supporters Gold 101 (J. Jackson 22, N. McPike 16, P. Cook 3-16 off 7, N. Page 3-8 off 4, J. Kirkham 2-36 off 5).