By Oliver Lees
Sunbury United have maintained top spot after a sweltering weekend in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup.
After two weeks without matches due player shortages around the league, players were welcomed back onto the field in challenging conditions, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees.
But Sunbury United remained unphased in its outing against Diggers Rest Bulla, tallying 8/223.
The commanding first innings total was driven by Damien Edwards 103 off 118, in a knock that included 13 boundaries.
Diggers bowlers Jacob Grant (3/52) and Nic Diss (3/49) did most of the damage with bowl in hand but were ultimately unable to maintain United’s firepower.
Nalaka De Silva’s knock of 42 and Rhys Berry’s 39 provided a glimmer of hope for Diggers, but the rest of the batting order collapsed for minimal return.
Diggers was bowled over for 132.
Zach Forster led the bowling effort for the United with a tidy 3/13 off his nine over spell, which included four maidens.
Elsewhere Romsey came out on top in its crucial middle of the table fixture against Woodend.
Romsey notched 4/230 in a strong first innings tally that was set up nicely by Sean Day (47), Chris Burkett (82) and Matthew Milne, who remained unbeaten on 43.
Romsey kept Woodend to 10/177 to push themselves up to fifth place on the ladder, all the while pushing Woodend out of the top six and into seventh place.
Rupertswood was able to leap frog Woodend into sixth place with a 3/106 chase down job on East Sunbury’s 10/104.
Gisborne’s top order led the way as they tallied 2/155 in an impressive chase of Wallan’s 6/152.
And the Sunbury Kangaroos proved no challenge for the big hitting talent of Bacchus Marsh prodigious talent Sam Lalor.
The 15-year-old helped to defeat Sunbury Kangaroos with 11 sixes and four boundaries before falling for 105 from 63 balls.
