Spurred on by its T20 title win during the week, Lethbridge continued its irresistible form by making a mammoth total against Corio in Geelong Cricket Association Division 3.
The third-placed Rosellas are well placed to defeat the fourth-placed Devils after compiling a hefty 8/377 on day one of round 12 on Saturday 31 January.
At 2/40, skipper Shane Dillon strode to the crease and proceeded to belt a sublime 105 from only 96 deliveries in an innings that contained 15 boundaries and two sixes at Shell Reserve, Corio.
Dillon had support with Matthew Thomas and Anand Choundary each making 46 while 24-year-old English import Tom Saunders made 89 from 95 balls and hit 11 fours and three sixes.
Saunders, from Bournemouth on England’s south coast, said Lethbridge’s win in the T20 competition during the week was a confidence booster going into the game against Corio.
“The T20 win was a big boost to the team especially after stepping up into GCA3 proving to ourselves and everybody else that we are good enough to be here,” he said.
Saunders said his captain’s century was a pleasure to watch from the nonstriker’s end.
“Shane (Dillon) is an incredible player, having batted with him a lot last year and a fair bit this year too, it’s nice to have the best seat in the house at the other end when he is firing at full force,” he said.
“The plan was to just turn the strike over and keep the scoreboard ticking over to take the pressure off and then put the bad ball away.
“When I came in the pitch had flattened out a bit after Jesse (Sorgiovanni, 15 from 44 balls) and Matt (Thomas) got us through the tough period up top, allowing Shane and myself to be able to play our natural game.
“He makes it easy as the plan was simple and we made sure not to over complicate things and I could get myself in while Shane was firing at the other taking the pressure off.”
Even with so many runs to defend, Saunders said the Rosellas’ bowling attack would still need to perform against a dangerous Corio batting line-up.
“(The) plan next week will be the same as we do every week – hit our line and length, build pressure and the wickets will come,” he said.
“We back ourselves in with the ball every time we step out onto the pitch and this week will be no different and we are all ready to go and know what we have to do. We have a deep bowling attack so if something is not working we are able to adapt.”
For Corio, seamer Mitchell Humm was a handful all day with 1/46 from 17 overs.
SUDHARSAN Rajaratnam piloted Waurn Ponds Deakin to a big total against Thomson.
Rajaratnam hit 10 boundaries and five sixes during his 169-ball stay at the crease before he was out caught at deep mid-wicket for a brilliant 132.
The Eagles compiled 289 all out after being 5/53. No 10 Dhanuja Haturusingha blasted a 40-ball 55 and shared a 100-run ninth-wicket stand with Rajaratnam to lift the total to almost 300.
Grant Dew and Eamon Mills each snagged two wickets for Thomson.
MURGHEBOLUC was 4/21 against Modewarre, but some resistance in the middle and late orders got the total up to a respectable 195 all out.
Michael Grozdanovski (37) and Luke Webb (56) added 72 after the early carnage and some late-order determination from the Frogs’ last three batters – Rasula Kankanamage (38), Nathan Tucker (15) and Tom Barter (16 not out) got the total up to something they can defend.
Kurt Bamford may have only taken one wicket, but he conceded just 28 runs from 18 overs for Modda.
JACK Burns piloted Marshall to 224 all out against Bannockburn.
Burns made 78 from 120 deliveries while fellow opener Phillip Lang made 30 and No 9 Marley Smith made an important 32.
Banno captain Tanner Hay was superb all day with his spinners to finish with 4/55 from 22.4 overs and paceman Darcy Foran finished with 3/44 from 14.
