Denman Hotel third grade number three batsman Braydon Harris became the second Cessnock District Cricket Association centurion this season when he scored 126 in the fourth round match against Mulbring at Howe Park.
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Harris came to the crease with his team in a spot of early bother at 1-3, but he quickly went about mending this issue, as he clubbed eighteen boundaries and cleared the fence on seven occasions in a remarkable innings of which he faced just 84 deliveries. This was the major contribution in his team's healthy total of 212, with Mulbring all out for 108 in reply.
Defending first grade premiers Mulbring remain the only undefeated team following their two-wicket victory in a thrilling finish against Greta/Branxton at Mulbring Oval.
In a replay of last season's premiership decider, Greta/Branxton skipper Joey Butler won the toss and elected to bat, but some very tidy bowling from the Mulbring seamers restricted Greta/Branxton to a modest total. The Blues were all in the final over of the forty-over contest for 148, with Patrick Andrews (49) leading the way with the willow before holing out one run short of his maiden half-century in the top grade. Ben Hogan made a productive 25, Butler scored a watchful 21, with Darren Holz and Connor Thomson making 18 apiece.
The home side's wickets were fairly evenly distributed, with skipper Cameron Ross taking 3-54 off 9.2, and Ben Neaves (2-27 off 10), Tom Callan (2- 27 off 6) and Willie Watson (2-16 off 4) taking a brace each.
The match remained in the balance throughout the entire Mulbring run chase, and with three overs to go, the Marlins needed fifteen to win with four wickets in hand. Two wickets within three balls gave the Blues a glimmer of hope of snatching an upset, but it was the cool head of Marlins opener and man-of-the-match Drew Olsen who steered the home side to victory with five balls to spare and two wickets in hand. It was only fitting that Olsen hit the winning runs with a pull stroke to the mid-wicket boundary, carrying his bat with a patient 94. Brad Turner (19) and Josh Lewis (10) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Martin Shearer was back to his best with the four-piece for Greta/Branxton, taking 2-29 off 10 very economical overs, but the Blues will look back at several run-out chances that went begging which could have been the difference in the end.
Bellbird were staring down the barrel of back-to-back defeats, but recovered to account for Wine Country by 56 runs at Carmichael Park to keep the Wood Ducks winless so far this season.
The home side batted first and were 8-116, but the tail wagged exceptionally, taking the score up to 9-211 at the close of innings. Luke Weekes smashed an unbeaten 72 off just 40 balls batting at number ten, with Jason Orr (22), Rob Drage (20), Scott Miller (19) and Ben Fairlie (16) all making starts. The youthful Ben Wood continued to impress with the new ball for the Wood Ducks, taking 3-39 off 10. Dean Elliot supported well with 2-29 off 7.
The visitors were all out inside 35 overs in reply for 155, with club president Mark O'Hara leading the way at the apex of the order with 45. Sam Peacock notched 38, with Andrew Fensom (21), Dean Elliot (18) and John Dwyer (12) making useful contributions.
Miller was back to his destructive best with the ball, bagging 5-41 off 10, supported well by Zach Kronholm who brought the match to a close with 3-41 off 7.2.
Peden's Hotel had the bye.
The Cessnock District Cricket Umpires Association would like to extend an invite to anyone wishing to take up umpiring. The payments are pretty good for all grades, so anyone wishing to do their ticket and take up umpiring should contact Rick Carr by email nat_jane2@bigpond.com or Tom Lewis tomlewis060@gmail.com.
Second Grade
Greta/Branxton 6/90 (Reuben Andrews 20no, Brock Charnock 18, Trent Fuller 16, Jason Varley 13, Daniel McCann 12, Beau Lantry 2-23 off 6, Arron Follan 2-19 off 5.5) def Chelmsford Hotel 10/87 (Josh McInnes 24, Arron Follan 23, Andrew Wanless 13, Brock Charnock 4-16 off 8, Jason Varley 3-9 off 4, James Shoulders Snr 2-17 off 10).
Bellbird 4/133 (Joey Millington 54, Dylan Stoker 33, Dale Arnold 30, John Cleary 12no, Eain Harris 2-15 off 3) def Wine Country 10/130 (Ethan Ellis 54, Dave Plumridge 30, Campbell Cleary 3-12 off 6, Pat Cagney 2-16 off 6, Dale Arnold 2-29 off 5).
Denman Hotel 7/207 (Daniel Foster 62, Shaun Clarke 46, Adam Bartley 32, Jakob Bartley 27, Luke Sweeney 2-47 off 10, Fletcher Sharpe 2-36 off 8) def Peden's Hotel 7/189 (Luke Sweeney 66no, Justin Barry 28, Fletcher Sharpe 17, Aaron Sweeney 15, James Collins 15, Ryan Fox 14, Brook Martin 3-23 off 10).
Third Grade
Bellbird 10/147 (Aaron Duffie 49, Jacob Bender 24, Trevor Schreiber 17no, Paul Lynch 12, Ayden Wilkinson 2-14 off 5.1, Peter Davis 2-19 off 6, James Shoulders Jnr 2-16 off 6, Murray Wilkinson 2-13 off 3).
Greta/Branxton White 5/134 (Jamie McNamara 47, Ben Miezis 27no, Aaron Stephenson 15no, Lachlan Marino 2-17 off 6, Tye Lantry 2-27 off 3) def Peden's Hotel White 10/133 (Ethan Gunther 30, Brett Hindmarsh 24, Tye Lantry, Matthew Kemp 13, Aaron Stephenson 2-36 off 3).
Denman Hotel 10/212 (Braydon Harris 126, Rob Clark 25, Brainard Antonio 15, Rob Young 5-43 off 9, Craig Allen 2-35 off 5) def Mulbring 10/108 (Matt Gough 39no, Mitch Olsen 24, Andrew Clifton 15, Mitch Teasdale 6-30 off 8, Mathew Whitney 3-32 off 10).
Peden's Hotel Blue 8/238 (Mick James 75, Dylan Smith 53, Kranthi Panuganti 40no, Liam Dureau 12, Daniel Olsen 12, J. Rachel 3-63 off 8) def Wine Country 10/190 (Jack Rachel 50, Jason McMichael 39, Zach Ellis 30, Jesse Ballenden 26no, Callum Dureau 3-58, Adam Williams 3-33).
Fourth Grade
Bellbird White 6/43 (Robert Jordan 19no, Nathan Davey 3-15 off 7, Tony Yates 2-5 off 2) defeated Bellbird Maroon 10/40 (Michael Steel 14, Jordan Field 13, Steve Fairfull 6-17 off 7, David Cooper 4-23 off 8).
Cessnock Hotel 4/152 (Kevin Dryden 42, Steve Collins 38no, Aaron Garthwaite 31, Jesse Smart 22, Jamie Spence 12no, Aidan Eather 1-44 off 5, Zac Harris 1-22 off 3, Steve Wood 2-34 off 4, Dominic Peacock 1-19 off 2) defeated Wine Country 10/144 (Tame Tua 64, Aidan Eather 34, Angus McClellan 13, Steve Collins 4-43 off 10, Jamie Spence 3-10 off 5.3, Joel Sweeney 2-19 off 4).
Supporters 9/152 (Brendan Sharpe 47, Scott Minter 42, R. Hollis 4-25 off 10, Gary-Jai Russell 3-21 off 8) defeated Peden's Hotel 10/127 (Gary-Jai Russell 32, Scott Larsen 17no, Craig Beer 16, Michael Read 13, Ricky Hollis 12, Scott Minter 5-34 off 8, Brendan Sharpe 3-29 off 10, Hayden Taylor 2-37 off 8).
Greta/Branxton 10/114 (Sam Dagg 23no, Adam Woodcroft 23, Will Howden 13, Doug Engel 12, Vijay Tharumakulasingam 4-30 off 7.5, Abinandan Sudharsanam 3-12 off 4) defeated Chelmsford Hotel 10/104 (Suraj Radhakrishnan 27, Anthony Mitchell 22, David Pinnington 14, Jay Johnson 13, Correy Stone 4-30 off 8, Jeremy Brown 2-29 off 5, Doug Engel 2-37 off 8, Riley McKewen 2-0 off 2.1).
