By Luke Voogt
Geelong has won its first match of the season thanks to a maiden Premier Cricket century by Angus Boyd and a four-wicket haul by all-rounder Hayden Butterworth.
Butterworth started poorly with the bat managing just 6 after the Cats won the toss against Greenvale Kangaroos.
The Cats lost their first three wickets for just 50 and looked in trouble against the Kangaroos, who placed 16th last season.
But Boyd, 22, led a comeback scoring 100 off just 74 balls, mounting a 164-run fourth wicket partnership with fellow young gun Thomas Jackson (67).
An incredible 48 of Boyd’s runs came off (eight) sixes alone in his big-hitting innings.
The innings is the first time Boyd has reached triple figures in two seasons in Geelong Cricket Club’s first XI.
The Cats finished with a respectable 6/252 and Butterworth soon made up for his batting by dismissing openers Haseeb Qureshi and Joshua Trembearth cheaply.
Only former Prahran and Geelong skipper Matthew Harrison managed any meaningful resistance, fighting for 35 runs off 65 balls.
Butterworth finished with 4/19 as the Cats bowled the Kangaroos out for just 114 to record a 138-run win.
Geelong returns home this Saturday to take on last season’s minor premiers Melbourne University.
University is coming off an eight-wicket thrashing of Essendon after its bowlers demolished the Bombers for just 97.
The side defeated Footscray in a rain-affected match the previous weekend, bowling the Bulldogs out for 137, following its opening round loss to Carlton.
But with University yet to post a big total this season, the Cats will have a chance if their batsmen can withstand University’s in-form bowlers.
In the Geelong Cricket Association division one firsts Newtown & Chilwell opener Isaac Hogan recorded his second century of the season.
But his 104 runs were not enough to get Newtown & Chilwell over the line, with Two Blues going down in a thriller to Murgheboluc.
The Blues (6/222) fell just two runs short despite having more wickets in hand than Murgheboluc (8/224) at the end of their 50 overs.
Lara, St Joseph’s, North Geelong and East Belmont also recorded wins. North Geelong sits atop the ladder, followed by Lara, Newtown & Chilwell and St Joseph’s.
In the seconds North Geelong, East Belmont, Lara, Grovedale and Murgheboluc scored wins.
Grovedale remains undefeated after eight rounds, with East Belmont, Highton and South Barwon rounding out the top four.
In the thirds Lara, Grovedale, North Geelong, East Belmont and Newtown & Chilwell were victorious.
North Geelong leads the ladder, followed by South Barwon, East Belmont and Murgheboluc.
