PURNIM has rocketed to the top of the Grassmere Cricket Association (GCA) ladder after claiming outright points against Mailors Flat.
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The Bulls moved 5.74 points — almost a game — clear of second-ranked Panmure thanks to their innings-and-66-runs triumph at Winslow Recreation Reserve.
Opening batsman Dallas Armitstead and pacemen Dan Oakley and Luke Ryan were the catalysts behind the destructive day-two performance.
Armitstead made 100 not out, his maiden A grade century, to steer Purnim to 4-250 declared, in reply to Mailors Flat’s 147 the previous weekend.
Oakley (3-21) and Ryan (5-16) then routed the Jets, who were playing one short, for 37 in 18 overs. There was one run out.
Purnim all-rounder Greg Bull said the extra points could prove valuable come the end of the regular season.
“Any points are a plus now we’re getting to the tight end of the season. It’s handy to get in there and get those few points,” he said.
“Also guys who might not have had much of a hit or a bowl on this occasion can have a hit or a bowl (after Christmas).”
Bull said Purnim, which resumed at 2-76, had to work hard to claim first-innings points. But the runs flowed freely from Armitstead’s bat after that.
“That’s his first A grade hundred. He’s made a couple in B grade and lower divisions in Warrnambool. He was really happy to get that,” he said.
“He’s probably close to 40 or thereabouts. It was a bit of relief for him to get the hundred. It was well deserved.”
Bull was also pleased with the discipline of Ryan, who represented the GCA at Bendigo Country Week last summer.
“He bowled with a bit of pace. He just did the right thing,” he said. “Oaks got a couple of good wickets with Pete Hunter and Flem (Chris Fleming) early. Once we got into the tail with the guys filling in, Luke did the right thing. “He didn’t go bowling short, he bowled yorkers. With a bloke like that bowling at that pace, if you haven’t played a lot of cricket it makes it pretty hard for them.”
In other GCA matches, Panmure claimed a comfortable victory against Yambuk at Yambuk Recreation Reserve to hold on to second spot.
The Bulldogs resumed at 0-24 and easily chased down the Buks’ 139. They declared at 2-151 and grabbed a further five wickets in the second innings.
Hawkesdale was also celebrating a regulation triumph against Grassmere at Purnim Recreation Reserve. The Cats, needing 139 for victory, declared at 5-158.
But the Meerkats hit Christmas with an encouraging second dig under their belts, reaching 0-60 by stumps with skipper Chris Lenehan making 51 not out.
And a season-best bowling display from Daniel Jones helped Killarney to a 132-run win against Wangoom at Killarney Recreation Reserve. Jones took 5-66 as the Roosters were all out for 188, well short of the Crabs’ 320. Darren Loft top scored with 63 while Nick Kermond made 40.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au