Premier Cricket 2018-19: Michael Hill guides Essendon to victory over Melbourne Uni
An unbeaten century from top-order batsman Michael Hill guided Essendon to an important Premier Cricket victory over top-four rival Melbourne Uni on Saturday.
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An unbeaten century from top-order batsman Michael Hill guided Essendon to an important Premier Cricket victory over top-four rival Melbourne Uni on Saturday.
The left-hander compiled his second hundred for the Bombers, finishing 104 not out as they posted 5-255 batting first at Windy Hill.
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The Students were on track for victory at 2-156 before Aaron Shellie (2-26), Louis Cameron (2-40) and Matt Doric (2-47) turned the match in Essendon’s favour.
Melbourne Uni lost its last eight wickets for 67 runs to be bundled out for 223 after 48.1 overs, allowing the Bombers to surge to third on the ladder after Round 10.
“We didn’t bowl particularly well in the first 25 overs, but after the drinks break we came back really well,” stand-in Essendon skipper Aaron Ayre said.
“It was probably the best second 25 overs we have put together for a while in one-day cricket.”
Ayre was full of praise for experienced batsman Hill, who faced 119 balls and hit five sixes in his “well-timed” century.
“He kept rotating the strike really well, took the bowlers on when he needed to and it has been a big focus for us in the middle overs to keep the run rate ticking over,” Ayre said.
“With Hilly there … it helped that run rate keep going up.”
James Seymour (47) and Isaac Willett (38) were other key contributors for the Bombers, who were without captain Clint McKay and frontline spinner Liam Bowe due to Big Bash League duties.
McKay is an assistant coach with Melbourne Stars, while Bowe has featured in the absence of Australian one-day leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
Essendon faces a tough run home as it targets a home final, taking on Footscray, Melbourne, Northcote, Casey-South Melbourne and Monash Tigers in its remaining games.
“The competition seems to be getting closer and closer each year.” Ayre said.
“There’s no real game you can turn up to and take for granted. Every game seems like a big grind at the moment.
“But we are having a fair bit of fun which is a good thing for our team and will hold us in pretty good stead.”
The Bombers host Footscray in a one-day fixture this Saturday.
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