Armstrong Creek opener Clay Mulgrew made a superb unbeaten 108 in his side’s Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade round three win against Inverleigh on Saturday October 21.
The Titans batted first and Mulgrew and Chris Marsiglio (39) added 86 for the first wicket to get the team off to a bright beginning.
While a final score of 3/176 from 40 overs was decent, skipper Daniel Maclean said he hoped for 200, but was confident he could defend the total.
“If we’re none for 70 most weeks, we’re going to go a long way to winning most games of cricket,” he said.
“It’s always a good sign when you get some runs at the top of the order.”
Mulgrew has scores of 3, 69 not out and now 108 not out this season. His round three ton came from 132 deliveries with 13 fours and two sixes.
“He’s batting well at the moment,” Maclean said.
“He got out first game and he’s been not out two games after that, so he’s going OK. At about the 30-over mark, he started to ramp it up a little bit. He got away early, took advantage of the field being up and hit through it and over it.”
The Armstrong Creek bowlers were ruthless when it came to Inverleigh’s turn to bat.
Paceman Lachlan Mulgrew picked up an early wicket and the steady left-arm medium pace of Jason Robertson netted him 4/23 from eight overs.
Sam Stoneley grabbed 4/11 and Maclean picked up a wicket himself to have Inverleigh all out for 70.
“The best words to say is we were clinical and ruthless,” Maclean said.
“I honestly think bowling is our massive strength and we set a really good standard in the field.”
The Titans take on last season’s runner-up Jan Juc on Saturday, however the Sharks are winless so far and have been struggling.
“We know how good they are and what they can do so we definitely won’t be taking them lightly next week, that’s for sure,” Maclean said.
BARWON Heads remained unbeaten and revelled in playing the first Battle of the Bridge contest in three seasons against Ocean Grove.
Two early wickets from youngster Taj Don and then a five-wicket haul from leggie Dan Donaldson gave the Heads the upper hand.
Some brilliant fielding from teenager Angus Ford, who took a great catch and executed two run outs, had Grove in trouble, but captain Dan Roddis 25 off 17) and Dylan Thorley (26 not out off 21) got the score up to 137.
Ocean Grove bowled well, but Harry Melzer (38) and Darcy Hewitt (24 not out) got the Seagulls over the line with four wickets and four overs to spare.
ANGLESEA is also undefeated after knocking off Barrabool.
Barrabool made 8/139 batting first with many players getting starts, but failing to get past 30.
It was a tight finish, but Anglesea won with two wickets in hand thanks to a pair of 33s from Brett Venables and Ben Harcombe.
QUEENSCLIFF broke through for its first win of the season with a hard-fought victory against Jan Juc.
Fran Mileto (70) and Hayden Illingworth (62) piloted the Coutas’ score of 9/185, which could have been more if not for spinner Mark Zahra’s 5/19.
Luke Edwards (68) got the Sharks close, but when 40 overs had elapsed they were four runs short.
