Brunswick smashes Endeavour Hills in record-breaking VSDCA performance
Chris Thewlis bashed, Dan Houghton crashed and Brunswick smashed a new Subbies record in a brutal 313-run takedown of Endeavour Hills.
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Chris Thewlis bashed, Dan Houghton crashed and Brunswick smashed a new VSDCA record.
The Wicks’ Subbies one-day total record was almost broken by Coburg a fortnight ago so on Saturday they set a new benchmark themselves, smashing their own 90-year-old record.
In 1934-35, Brunswick scored 6-348 against Ivanhoe and it bettered that mark with a mammoth 5-356 AG Gillon Reserve.
It ended in a brutal 313-run victory over Endeavour Hills, likely another record if the association kept such statistics.
Big-hitting opener Thewlis was on fire from the start, blasting an incredible 143 runs from just 74 balls, launching 10 sixes and 12 boundaries.
Jackson Cooper made 57 in a whirlwind 207-run opening stand.
Captain Simon Hill (68 off 53) and deputy Ben Rowles (43 not out) kept the scorers busy with a 95-run partnership of their own.
“I think someone said those were the days when they played 60-over one-dayers and eight-ball overs,” coach Geoff Pretty said.
“You don’t see 200-run opening partnerships record too often.
“Cobba is hard to contain when he gets going, especially at Brunswick, which is a bit shorter straight.
“He was clearing the boundaries square as well, he hit one over cover for six and I’d suggest that’s almost as big as the MCG.
“Coops was a big part of that partnership and SOS (Hill) after to get in a good position.
“Cobba is a bit more of a brute whereas Simon gets you with elegance.”
The bowlers then (probably) said, anything you can do we can do better.
Houghton ripped through the Hills’ batting order, claiming 5-21 from 8.3 overs – his second five-wicket haul for the club.
Louis Cameron picked up 3-19 and Ameya Gharat took 1-3 as the Wicks attack needed just 20.3 overs to wrap up victory.
Endeavour Hills captain Blaize Bainbridge was the only batter to reach double figures, top-scoring with 13.
“Our bowlers went to work, Dan and Louis didn’t give them a look in,” Pretty said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game won by 300 runs, let alone a one-dayer, that’s just enormous.
“They’re different types of bowlers but just as affective as one another – you don’t get a lot of respite from one end.”
Thewlis’ second century of the season sees him climb to third on the North-East group run-scorers charts with 493 runs at an average of 54.78.
Houghton sits fifth on the wicket-taker charts with 23 at 11.39 and Cameron is 13th with 18 scalps at 10.72.
With four games remaining Brunswick sits fourth on the ladder, looking to return to finals for the first time since 2020-21.
The Wicks face sixth-placed Mt Waverley (home), Coburg (away), Strathmore (away) and Box Hill (home) in the run home.
Pretty wasn’t counting his chickens.
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“There’s still plenty of cricket to be played,” he said.
“Our Seconds are sitting fourth, our Thirds are seconds and our Fourths are on top, so all our sides are in contention at this point which is fantastic for the club.
“Add in the Craig (Shield) boys as well, they’re into the semi-final.”
After a 43-run win over Yarraville, Brunswick’s Craig Shield team will travel to Melton on Tuesday for the semi-final, eyeing a place in the final against either Brighton or Oakleigh.
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