SOME cricketers can go their whole careers without a century or a five-wicket-haul, but one Nyah District all-rounder has claimed both in the one afternoon.
A masterclass from Joel Walsh claimed a 15th victory of the season for the Demons, against a resilient Barham Koondrook side.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Nyah District openers Dean Harrop and Charlie Boulton laid the groundwork through a quick 32-run partnership.
Harrop fell for 16, and when Boulton followed for 43, Walsh came out to the crease with his side at 2/64.
He was electric throughout his innings, smashing the ball to all areas of the field, including seven sixes and seven fours on his way to 107 off 74 balls.
Tristan Dalbon provided some extra late-inning runs, scoring an unbeaten 40 off 41 balls.
Walsh would be dismissed by Lance Davidson, who was the pick of the Raiders’ bowlers, taking 4/57 which included a late chance for a hat-trick.
Nyah’s 9/288 set up a big chase for the Raiders.
But it wouldn’t be long before Walsh made his impact felt on the game again, dismissing opener Eion Janse Van Rensburg for three runs in the fifth over.
Davidson set to work steadying the ship with No.3 batsman Bradley Lake.
The top order made consistent starts with the bat and worked to ensure they didn’t lose a number of wickets at once.
Joel Davidson was the top performer with the bat for the Raiders, falling just short of a half-century with 48 runs.
Walsh ripped through the middle and bottom order of the opposing line-up, claiming figures of 5/42 off his 15 overs.
He was well supported by Alex Wilson, who claimed 3/39 as Barham Koondrook were dismissed for 176 off 42 overs.
A six-wicket haul from Ultima TUF’s Jordan King wasn’t enough to upset a strong St Mary’s Tyntynder, who claimed a 73-run victory.
Batting first, St Mary’s managed a total of 200 thanks to an early 49-run performance from Jake Foster, which included 10 fours.
But when Bailey Codling was dismissed caught and bowled by King for 20, the Bulldogs sat at 5/96 and Ultima TUF were well in the game.
Again, late innings runs made the difference, as both Riley Daniels and skipper Nathaniel Holmes-Brown made 31, while Koben Ryan added 23 runs.
King claimed the final wicket of the innings to give him 6/87, while Cassidy Sibley and Samuel Nelson both took two wickets.
Wandella completed an efficient chase to win their match against Swan Hill.
Returning skipper Ryan Barnes claimed figures of 4/20 off his 15 overs, as the Swans were kept to 7/117 off their 50 overs.
Opener Ammar Khalid was solid on his way to 37 runs, consistently protecting his wicket for 105 balls as players fell around him.
Bombers openers Samuel Copland and Luke Murray will be disappointed to miss out on runs, dismissed for six and five respectively.
Wandella’s No.1 bowler Peter Moore went without a wicket but was on fire with the bat.
Moore scored an unbeaten, run-a-ball 55 runs, which included seven fours, while Gregory Dickson made 19.
Moore finished the game alongside Kaine O’Connell who made 22, as the Bombers chased down the total in 25 overs with six wickets in hand.
Khalid followed up his innings with the bat by taking 2/36, while the other wickets came from Lachlan Edwards, who took 2/40.
Woorinen were in no mood to hang about as they chased down Murrabit’s 139 in just under 20 overs.
The Blues elected to bat and were looking in a good position at 2/59 after losing Zeb Hein for 12 and Simon Ettershank for 27.
Tim Millard and Toby Gray attempted to further the Blues total, but when Millard was dismissed for 26, Gray soon lost support.
Gray on 39 was the eighth wicket to fall and his side could only manage an extra five, all out for 139 in the 50th over.
Darren Rushton claimed 5/46 off 15 overs, while Gurmander Singh claimed 3/40 off his 21.
With the bat, Rushton scored 39 and Singh an unbeaten 29.
But it was a big-hitting performance from Connor Fletcher, smashing 62 off 38 balls, that finished the game off for the Tigers.
The big eight-wicket victory is their 10th of the season, bringing them to third position on the ladder.
