VSDCA 2018-19: Ryan Pearson hits 172 for Plenty Valley against Coburg
A CAREER-BEST 172 from opener Ryan Pearson lifted Plenty Valley to its best total in almost five years against Coburg on Saturday.
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A CAREER-BEST 172 from opener Ryan Pearson lifted Plenty Valley to its best total in almost five years against Coburg on Saturday.
The Bats came within five runs of the 9-401 they amassed against Elsternwick in November, 2013, compiling 8-396 despite losing three overs to bad light.
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The early finish robbed Sean Ayres of a century after he clubbed 97 not out from 73 balls, while Rory Collins added 57 in a 124-run fifth-wicket partnership with Pearson.
The left-handed opener was undoubtedly the star, batting for almost five and a half hours and facing 199 balls to provide the backbone of his side’s monster total.
“The ground was pretty quick, so that helped a fair bit early on,” Pearson said.
“The wicket played really well.
“There wasn’t much in it for the bowlers until late in the day when it stayed low. It was really good batting conditions.”
Pearson took advantage of a fast outfield at Yarrambat, enjoying the batting-friendly conditions, which are in stark contrast to Plenty Valley other home ground — Watsonia’s A.K Lines Reserve.
“It’s slow as treacle out there (at A.K Lines Reserve),” he said.
“It’s good to just get it through the field and it goes for four.
“Out there you are running twos and threes and you almost end up halving your score.”
Pearson hit 30 boundaries and cleared the rope once in his innings, going 37 runs better than his 135 not out against Coburg in Round 2 last season.
“I just aimed to spend a bit of time at the crease,” he said.
“We were three for not many and it made me knuckle down a bit more and try and hang in there.”
Ryan Fort (2-94) removed Simon Bray (9) to end a 28-run opening stand, before a double strike from Skand Vohra (2-51) had the Bats on the ropes at 3-33.
Pearson and Daniel Heatley (23) wrested control, before the opening batsman and Collins set the platform for Ayres to hammer Plenty Valley towards 400.
“He was amazing. I love batting with Ayresy,” Pearson said.
“He’s come out and right from the word go you knew he was on. He had some swagger about him.”
Pearson said he was disappointed play was called early as Ayres “deserved a hundred”.
New Coburg captain Zac Thorne toiled through 28 overs, finishing with 4-132.
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