A magnificent century by Clay Dreary kept Newtown & Chilwell inside the Geelong Cricket Association top four on Saturday January 13.
Dreary made a stunning 116 from 94 deliveries and bludgeoned 10 fours and five sixes against St Joseph’s.
Newtown & Chilwell made an imposing 7/302 after winning the toss and eagerly batting first at Queen’s Park, Highton.
Tom Meredith made a classy 78 from 99 balls and shared a 150-run partnership with Dreary.
St Joseph’s were superb during their run chase, but fell 36 runs short despite a beautiful 102 from 115 deliveries by opener Luke Ibbs and 93 from 116 from Jackson Bye. The pair shared a 185-run second wicket partnership.
East Belmont defeated Grovedale at Winter Reserve and moved level on points with the Tigers.
East Belmont batted first with Josh Lacey making 52 out of the final total of 182.
Sam Coutts (4/26) and Clinton Ford (3/29) proved difficult to get away.
However, Grovedale fell for 110 with Michael McNeel (56) getting more than half the runs himself as new-ball pair Dylan Moroney (4/39) and Jack Jenkins (3/11) did the damage.
North Geelong gave its percentage a boost with a huge win against Lara.
Curtly Balshaw (65) continued his fine season with the willow and Sam Hall (63 from 50) played with freedom.
A late 48 not out from 31 balls from Tom Mathieson pushed the final total up to 8/283 with Lara’s Robert Pehar (3/39 from 10 overs) bowling very well.
Lara started disastrously in its run chase and continued to lose wickets regularly, being all out for 67 as Bradley Apps (3/13) helped get rid of the top order.
South Barwon defeated a gutsy Highton by 49 runs.
Nick Butters (85 from 89 balls) and Pat Richards (68) helped the Swans get to 7/285 and Alex Jennings contributed with 42.
Half-centuries from Jack Cook (63) and James Gillard (51) gave Highton a sniff, but three wickets from Clinton Place ensured South Barwon got home.
