THE unabated flow of runs from the blade of Chris Bant continues to light up the Grassmere Cricket Association.
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On Saturday at Winslow Bant hit his third century in a row when he smashed 149 to lead Panmure to a position of strength after day one of its round 13 game against Mailors Flat.
Bant’s heroics with the bat saw Panmure race to 5-315 off 44 overs before the Bulldogs declared and put Mailors Flat in.
The Panmure bowlers followed up the good work of their batsmen, getting among the wickets to have Mailors Flat 3-88 at stumps.
It has been a spectacular run for Bant who has also scored two half-centuries this season and a total of 597 runs at an average of 85.28.
His innings on Saturday included eight sixes and 12 fours and Bant said he was happy with the way the ball was coming off the bat.
“I think once you get to spend some time in the middle you get into a bit of a rhythm and a bit of luck helps as well,” Bant said.
“Once you are seeing them all right you just have to judge the pace of the game and go from there. I just try and take it as it comes.”
Bant’s form with the bat has helped Panmure surge back into premiership contention with the Bulldogs now nestled in third place on the ladder.
While the top end of the ladder is familiar territory for the Bulldogs, a mid-season slump saw them drop out of the top four at one stage.
This temporary fall from grace was something Bant was keen to help turn around.
“We are probably a batsman or two short of what we have been so I knew I had to try and stand up and get some runs,” he said.
“It is a long time since we have been out of the top four so it was a bit of a shock but I think now we are building well and hopefully we can hit our peak at the right time.”
Hawkesdale captain Josh Julius led the way with the bat in his team’s score of 231 against Wangoom at Hawkesdale on Saturday.
Julius crafted an innings of 95 and was well supported by Jason Elliot (66),with the pair putting on 155 for the fourth wicket.
Shamus O’Beirne and Nick Kermond grabbed three wickets each for Wangoom. Hawkesdale bowled 12 overs to end the day which Wangoom successfully navigated to reach stumps on 0-27.
It was also a skipper’s knock for Killarney with captain Brett Halliwell posting 68 in his team’s score of 8-255 on day one against Purnim.
At Purnim it was a bowler’s day with Yambuk bowling Grassmere out for 158 with Jason Alberts claiming 5-40.
In reply Yambuk made a shaky start with the bat ending up a precarious 3-15 at stumps.
abrady@fairfaxmedia.com.au