PROVINCIAL
MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association star Chris Brittain single-handedly defeated Moorooduc in Provincial cricket on Saturday after smashing an incredible 232 for Baxter.
The master all-rounder hit 18 fours and 14 sixes in Baxter’s massive total of 7/416 after chasing Moorooduc’s 168.
Coming into the Round 8 match, Brittain had already hit two massive back-to-back hundreds against Mornington and Crib Point.
Those knocks prompted former Victorian wicketkeeper and South Australia coach Darren ‘Chuck’ Berry to say on Melbourne radio that Brittain was the best country batsman he had seen.
As well as having knocks of 155 and 181 coming into this match, Brittain had also scored half-centuries against Sorrento and Langwarrin.
Chris Brittain has hit an amazing 786 runs this season in eight innings, as well as snaring 21 wickets.
It’s hard to remember a single player dominating with bat and ball to this degree in MPCA cricket – names like Scott Phillips and Paul Hartle spring to mind but it’s doubtful we’ve ever witnessed anything like this.
His skipper at the other end, Daniel Warwick, who has also dominated this season, hit 90 runs in Baxter’s massive win.
The Ducs’ used nine bowlers in an effort to remove Brittain. The prized scalp was eventually picked-up by skipper Ken Cremen.
Langwarrin continues to defy the odds and notched up yet another victory on Saturday, this time against Pearcedale to claim the Bushman’s Cup.
Defending 180, Matt Prosser had his best ever game with the ball for the Kangas, snatching 7/65 in 25.1 overs to play a game-changing role in helping to dismiss the Panthers for 154.
Skipper Travis Campbell got his side away to a flyer and bowled sensationally to claim 2/34 from 16 overs.
Kaine Smith top-scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 47 while Brad Trotter opened with 40.
Mornington made tough work of it but it was enough to get the points against Mt Eliza in a thriller.
Chasing 167 for victory, Mornington picked up the winning runs with one wicket in hand.
Nick Johnson with an unbeaten 25 was the key player in the victory when things got tight at the end, while Brad McDonald top scored with 46.
Justin Grant was again superb with the ball for the Mounties, claiming 5/65 from 36.2 overs. Rob Maskiell picked up 3/23 from 13.
Crib Point picked up a much-needed win against Long Island, beating them outright to claim the maximum 20 points.
The Magpies made 145 in reply to Long Islands 95 before rolling them again for just 82.
The Pies needed just over 30 runs to claim the outright win.
Crib Point skipper Matt Blake picked up 5/18 in the first innings and Jacob Cook snared 4/21 in the second dig.
The Pies are still 20 points outside of the top four.
Peninsula Old Boys successfully defended its 8/277 against Sorrento, bowling out the Sorras with three overs to go for 251.
Leigh Poholke top scored for Sorrento with 71 while Jedd Flack hit 44.
James LaBrooy was the best of the Old Boys’ bowlers with 3/29.
Pines got the job done against Somerville, winning by 26 runs.
Chasing 187 for victory, Somerville resumed on 1/15 and lost wickets at important times thereafter.
Nick Wilcox took 4/36 for Pines and Alex Coad claimed 2/31.
First published in the Mornington News – 31 January 2017
