Catch up on the major talking points from the weekend’s Gisborne District action

Senura Perera dazzled with the ball for Sunbury United, Kilmore produced a miracle comeback and there were big wins for Aintree and Melton South.

There were highlights aplenty as Round 6 wrapped up in the Gisborne District Cricket Association.

Sunbury United’s Senura Perera and Jamie Taylor picked up plenty of wickets on a weekend that proved difficult for batters.

Meanwhile, there were comeback miracles and big run chases.

Check out all the major talking points from the weekend’s action below.

Sunbury United’s Upul Fernando. Picture: Andy Brownbill

PERERA’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Sunbury United skittled Diggers Rest Bulla on Saturday to secure a 102-run win at Bloomdale Oval. Senura Perera starred for the Bees, taking a remarkable 7-35, while Amrit Sandhu claimed 3-49 as Diggers was dismissed for 136. Nathan Crosland provided the only resistance, making a fighting 53 at the top of the order. Perera ripped through the middle order, triggering a 5-12 collapse.

KILMORE COMES BACK FROM THE DEAD

The Blues were in a world of trouble on Saturday before staging a miraculous comeback. Chasing Riddell’s seemingly short total of 120 at Riddells Creek, Kilmore were in major strife, falling to 6-46 after losing 4-2 and were 7-67 when Ned McKeown fell. Marcus Davern and Elliot Frendo then changed the game. The pair’s match-winning 123-run partnership secured a three-wicket win. Davern was out for 58 and Frendo finished unbeaten 57. Nathan O’Brien almost dragged Riddell over the line with a destructive spell of 5-17 but Kilmore survived.

TAYLOR ROCKS MACEDON

Jamie Taylor ripped through Macedon’s batting order to secure Romsey a commanding 140-run win. Taylor finished with figures of 4-27 as Macedon was rolled for 162, chasing the Redbacks’ 6-302 first innings. Chris Axton provided some late resistance with 42 not out, while Gareth de Rosayro made 39 but few other Cats stood up. Romsey then had a second bat and reached 4-104 at stumps with Matt Milne bringing up a half-century, 57 not out.

Matthew Milne in action for Romsey. Picture: Andy Brownbill

BROADFORD OBLITERATE EAST SUNBURY

There’s dominant and then there’s Broadford’s win over East Sunbury on Saturday. After making a solid 8-223 on day one of the two-day clash, Broadford rolled through its Johnstone Shield rival for just 68 to seal a 155-run victory. The chase started disastrously for the Thunder when Broadford captain Jack Connell removed Liam Williams first ball of the innings and James Jones took an extraordinary 5-7 from 16.1 overs. Blake Watson was East’s top scorer with 15.

GISBORNE’S FEATS NOT SO RARE

Let’ take nothing away from Gisborne’s run-feast on Saturday. It was extraordinary. However, there’s been several recent team and individual performances that have been just as impressive. Riddell racked up 8-481 in 2017-18 – also against Rupertswood – as Michael Day smashed 173.

EYNESBURY COMES UP SHORT

The Eagles put up fight and any other week 7-213 would be a competitive score but it resulted in a 110-run loss on Saturday. Eynesbury couldn’t run down Wallans’ monstrous 3-323 from last weekend. Eagles skipper Shaun Collins top-scored with 65 from 81 balls, while Jason Davis made 40 and Schalk van der Westhuizen added 38 not out. Bryan Vance backed up his unbeaten 163 with 1-9, trapping Davis lbw.

AINTREE, MELTON SOUTH CRUISE

Aintree and Melton South both made light work of run chases on Saturday. The Stallions ran down Lancefield’s 154 in 30 overs to claim a seven-wicket win. Jasvinder Singh Sandhu top-scored with 52, while Nishan Singh added 45 and Gurinder Sohal guided the team home with 44 not out. Meanwhile, the Royals reeled in Malmsbury’s 120 even easier, sealing the win in 22 overs for a nine-wicket victory. Jake Mallia was the hero with 65 not out, Michael Truswell did the damage last week with the ball, taking 4-27.