Premier Cricket 2018-19: Ben Rowles and Oli Gunning hit maiden centuries for Camberwell Magpies
Ben Rowles and Oli Gunning enjoyed breakthrough knocks for the Camberwell Magpies, posting their maiden First XI centuries in an eight-wicket romp over Melbourne.
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A biggie for Ben, a ton for “Gunn’’.
Ben Rowles and Oli Gunning enjoyed breakthrough knocks for the Camberwell Magpies on Saturday, both posting their maiden First XI centuries in an eight-wicket romp over Melbourne at the Camberwell Sports Ground.
The pair combined for a 234-run stand across four hours for the second wicket, as the Magpies chased down Melbourne’s opening day total of 280.
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Rowles was dismissed for 122, with just 11 runs needed for victory, after hitting 15 fours and a six in 225 deliveries, while Gunning finished unbeaten on 119, striking 17 boundaries off 195 deliveries against his former club.
@BenRowles walking off to a deserved ovation. Great knock of 122 @MelbCC @vicpremcricket pic.twitter.com/G4JAZamoZN
— Camberwell Magpies (@MagpiesCMCC) February 23, 2019
Another Mildura product in the runs in @vicpremcricket. @MagpiesCMCC opener Ben Rowles posts his maiden First XI century, hitting 122 and sharing a 234-run partnership with Oli Gunning, who also posted his first century to be 119 not out.
— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) February 23, 2019
The result bumped the Demons out of the Premier Cricket finals and left Camberwell in eighth position with one round remaining.
A win in the final home-and-away round against ladder-leader Carlton would book the Magpies a finals berth.
Since landing in the Magpies nest from Mildura ahead of the 2012-13 season, Rowles has been in and out of the top team but has enjoyed a productive time since hitting 156 in the Second XI in November.
In his three most recent knocks he has logged scores of 48, 77 and 122.
“He had a massive pre-season, worked really hard on his game and he’s always challenging himself to get better,” Camberwell coach Brad Loveluck said.
“It’s probably reward for effort over a long period of time and he thoroughly deserved his opportunity when he came in.”
The promising Gunning arrived at Camberwell over the winter on the back of an outstanding season in Melbourne’s Second XI, logging two centuries to come in with 594 runs for 2017-18.
He transferred to the Magpies looking for opportunities but before the weekend had put up just one score beyond 30 for the season.
Loveluck said Gunning was recruited as a “long-term player” for the Magpies.
“He did really well for Melbourne last season and in my eyes, probably dominated the second grade competition and showed he was more than capable at that level,” he said.
“It was about providing an opportunity for him to develop at the next level.
“He has got the game to do it so it was just a matter of backing him in for a long period of time. I’m expecting big things from him in the future and I think that is just the start of what we will see from Oli.”
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