Country cricket: BLU’s Ben Reid, Merton’s Rohan Berriman star

While more eyes might have been on the top grades in country cricket, it was the lower grade stars stealing the headlines across regional Victoria. Here’s how.

Sometimes the best performances across the state don’t come in the top teams but in the lower grades as was the case on the weekend.

Regional Victoria’s best batting and bowling efforts came as a result of two players playing in their respective C-Grade competitions.

Bamawm Lockington United’s Ben Reid had the highest score of any player with a 189-run performance against Echuca South.

Reid came to the crease after his side elected to bat first at 1-26 before going onto help his side reach 6-272 from their 40 overs.

He also struck a century in Goulburn Murray Cricket last season with 109 against Echuca Green.

In the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association, Merton’s Rohan Berriman had the best figures of any player regionally with 7-23 against Beechworth Wanderers.

Berriman’s performance was his best bowling display for Merton since he took 6-53 in the 2010-11 season.

Cranbourne Meadows opener lights up West Gippsland

Opener Karanvir Singh enjoyed a day out for Cranbourne Meadows on Saturday with a devastating innings.

Singh hit the ball to areas of the ground finishing his day with 18 fours and six sixes as Meadows reached 9/300 from their 40 overs.

His side went onto win by 131 runs over Carlisle Park Vikings.

A game full of centuries

Ballarat-Redan opener Zac Jenkins was the hero for his side against Golden Point after recording an unbeaten 127 in his side’s three-wicket win.

Jenkins finished with 11 fours and one six in a commanding innings in a thrilling contest.

Despite a superb innings of his own, Joshua White’s 111-run performance for Golden Point wasn’t enough to lead his side to the point.

Jenkins’ clubmate and president Paul Aikman played his 331st game for Ballarat-Redan to move him into second place on the club’s all-time games list.

He is now 30 games behind David Wallis’ record of 361.

Meanwhile, Michael Hayes made his first century for the club in the fourth XI.

New pacesetters on the Bellarine

Jan Juc’s Ben Grinter produced an impressive innings to score the highest total of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket season.

Gritner hit an unbeaten 110 runs which included 13 fours and one six as his side reached 1/228 against Collendina.

Darcy Hewitt of Barwon Heads (110 runs) and Cameron Chisholm from Armstrong Creek (106) hit centuries in A2 Grade.

Youngster’s stunning three-over spell

Young Harry Mills produced a stunning spell of bowling for Huntly North Epsom last Friday when he took 5-7 from three overs.

Those were the best figures across all grades of the Bendigo District competition at the weekend.

Blackheath/Dimboola bowler’s impressive performance

Brendan Marrs enjoyed a day out with the ball for Blackheath/Dimboola at the weekend taking 6-23 in the Horsham District competition.

Maars’ figures were the best recorded of any player this season across all divisions.

Tony Caccaviello of Noradjuha Toolondo Bullants took figures of 5-32 in his side’s win.

Supplied Editorial Brendan Marrs took 6-23 for Blackheath Dimboola. Photo: Facebook.

Seven centuries in Geelong

There were runs galore on offer in Geelong at the weekend as seven different batsmen recorded centuries.

The top score went to St Josephs’ Liam Baldock who amassed a 125-run performance in the fourths competition.

Liam Biddiscombe from North Geelong was also impressive with a 113-run innings.

Peter Grozdanovski (110, Murgheboluc), Shane Kelton (105, Highton), Mathew Dawson (102, Murgheboluc), Michael Cullen (101, Leopold) and Jack Driver (101, Geelong City) also reached triple figures.

St Albans Breakwater’s Tom Burke fell one run short of the milestone.

Six-wicket haul not enough

Jason Kennedy’s season best figures of 6-24 weren’t enough to help Koonwarra L/RSL get over the line against Imperials at the weekend.

Imperials came out on top by 36 runs in the Leongatha and District clash after setting their rivals 202 for victory.

Koonwarra were eventually dismissed for 166.

A stunning bat off in Warrnambool District cricket

North Warrnambool’s Kory Howlett and Brierly Christ Church’s Mark Murphy enjoyed a stunning bat off in their Warrnambool District clash with both players making centuries.

Howlett’s innings of 105 was enough to help the Eels come out on top by just 10 runs.

Murphy was dismissed for 103 when his side was just 22 runs short of their target of 207.

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