By Tara Murray
Gisborne was the big winner in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup on Saturday.
With rain playing havoc across the grounds, only one match in the top grade was completed and Gisborne came away with the win against St Anthony’s.
Dragons skipper Jarryd Vernon said in the past they were the ones that normally lucked out with the weather.
“The others matches getting washed out is pretty handy for us,” he said.
“It’s crucial, we are normally the ones who get washed out. There was a fair bit of rain around and we were coming on and off.
“There was a stage out there, 20 overs into the St Anthony’s innings, it looked bad.
“We thought one more downpour and that was going to be the end of the day, it didn’t come.”
It was a strong performance for the Dragons with both the bat and the ball.
Gisborne made 7-231.
Vernon said that score in a one-dayer was always hard to chase down.
“We started off a bit slow as we were missing both our openers.
“We found another gear … in the last 20 overs.
“It was a pretty reasonable score.”
Vernon was the star, making 96.
He said it was good to make runs after going out for a golden duck the week before, but he was more focused on getting the team in a good position.
St Anthony’s batted out its overs, but fell short, finishing 8-162.
Vernon said they set about trying to stop Saints skipper Cameron Clayton.
Clayton finished 85 not out.
“Cam is a good player,” Vernon said.
“The plan was to get him off strike and try and get the others on strike.
“It was really tough bowling conditions. The fast bowlers were bowling off four and five steps.”
With wet ground making it hard for the fast bowlers, Vernon turned to his spinners and slower bowlers.
Capping off a good day, Vernon finished with three wickets.
The result has the Dragons sitting atop
the ladder, with three wins from as many games.
Vernon said they couldn’t have asked for a better start – they’ve already beaten two-time reigning premiers Bacchus Marsh and the highly rated Sunbury United.
“We’ve got a lot of new guys come into the club,” he said.
“They have gelled really well and to get three wins is positive for us. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The Dragons have two one-day matches left before the start of two-day cricket.
In other weekend matches, Romsey was on track for victory against Riddell.
Romsey was 2-144 in reply to Riddell’s 192.
Diggers Rest made 174 in its game against Sunbury United. United was 2-36 in reply.
Woodend was 0-3 in reply to Bacchus Marsh’s 8-190.
