Footballers Cricket Club’s Chris Brittain, centre, with teammates after breaking a 50-year record club record by scoring 218 out of 9/391 against Knox.
By Steve Brown
FORMER Australian under-19 batsman Chris Brittain broke a 50-year-old club record on Saturday when he blasted 218 in the Decoite Shield match at Miller Reserve.
Playing for the Footballers first XI against Knox, he broke the record of 173 set by Don Downes in 1960.
In another outstanding individual performance in the shield, Knoxfield opening bowler and Bendigo Country Week premiership player Scott McKenzie took career-best figures of 8/52 against Auravale.
And in the Knox Tavern Cup Craig Wenham collected 7/36 from 25 overs for Johnson Park over St Johns Tecoma.
The second last round of the Knox Tavern Cup saw Ferntree Gully, Upper Gully and Upwey safely locked into finals action no matter how the results fall.
The only uncertainty is who will grab fourth position: Johnson Park has already claimed first-innings points over St Johns Tecoma and a shot at the semi-finals with the Saints cut down for only 93.
The Sharks were well placed at 0/98 on a day the Saints would rather forget.
Commenting on Wenham’s effort, Sharks skipper and wicketkeeper, Peter Dunlop said:
“Craig usually bowls big in-swing, however today he got the ball to cut and swing away from the right-handers. Combined with his stock ball he caused a lot of problems for the batsmen.”
Upwey welcomed the return to the top flight of young medium-pacer Ben Wood, who was badly injured by fire in September last year and his presence lifted the Tigers to restrict top team Ferntree Gully to 174 from 72 overs.
Ryan Handley looked the goods until adjudged lbw for 43 while Sam Waters took his second five-wicket haul of the season with 5/47.
The Tigers will need to work hard next week on the slow Upwey outfield against a miserly Gully bowling attack.
Monbulk could muster only 131 against second-placed Upper Gully with David Wright scoring a half century and unless Jason Fraser can cut loose with the bat, the Monbulk season may well be shortlived.
For the Kings, Dave “Yak” Goodger (4/29), Aaron Watson and Jay Colee combined well to set up another victory.
The Basin was fairly well set at 4/100 but managed only 162 against a Belgrave desperate to keep in touch with the final four.
R. S. Rundle contributed a fine 72 for the Huntsmen with spinner Benny Carnell claiming four wickets but Carnell fell before stumps, lbw to Heskes, leaving Belgrave 1/15 at the close and it’s “game on”.
Lysterfield’s Kyle Snyman continues to be the leading run-maker in the competition with a timely 114 to take his season tally to 603 runs at 86 against last season’s runners up Eildon Park, which will chase 221 next week.
Aaron Powell and Mick Sinclair took four wickets apiece for the Panthers. Knox Gardens, at 0/29, could sneak a win against Rowville (182) with Dancey taking 5/49 for the Falcons, who cannot avoid relegation.
Ryan Guest top-scored with 54 for Rowville, which must keep its finals chances alive.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:KNOX TAVERN CUP
St Johns Tecoma 93 (Wenham 7/36) v Johnson Park 0/98 (Dunlop 58*).
Ferntree Gully 174 (Handley 43, Richardson 35, Waters 5/47) v Upwey.
Monbulk 131 (D. Wright 54, Goodger 4/29, Watson 3/12, Colee 3/39) v Upper Gully.
The Basin 162 (Rundle 72, Carnell 4/62) v Belgrave 1/15.
Rowville 182 (Guest 54, Daniel 34, Dancey 5/49) v Knox Gardens 0/29.
Lysterfield 8/221 (Snyman 114, Moody 51, Powell 4/60, Sinclair 4/71) v Eildon Park.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DECOITE SHIELD
Footballers 9/391 (Brittain 218) v Knox.
Auravale 105 (Anthony 34, Harmon 37, McKenzie 8/52) v Knoxfield 6/218 (Train 47, Faulkner 40*, Wilson 36*, Swinburne 3/48).
Mountain Gate v South Belgrave: no score supplied.
