Indika Massalage smashes record-breaking double ton for Diggers Rest Bulla
After a quiet start to the season, Diggers Rest Bulla opener Indika Massalage smashed his way back into form and break the GDCA league high-score record with a slashing double hundred.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Indika Massalage rewrote the GDCA McIntyre Shield record books with a slashing 266 as Diggers Rest Bulla dominated day one of its clash against Sunbury United on Saturday.
The Burras opener surpassed Hayden Castle’s previous record score of 220 not out in 2013-14 as well as Cole Laurie’s club mark of 221.
Massalage’s cracked 30 fours and 10 sixes in his record-breaking innings and shared a 203-run partnership with Upul Fernando before finally being dismissed.
GDCA: BIG WET CAN’T DAMPEN BURRAS’ OPTIMISM
LEADER: GET YOUR GDCA CRICKET NEWS HERE
PREMIER: FARCICAL FINISH TO SUPER SLAM MATCHES
“I’m really proud,” Massalage said.
“My first 50 was a bit slow because I wanted to get in, then I started to see it well.
“Upul and I built a strong partnership and now we’re in a very strong position.”
Massalage had been struggling for form before his masterclass, scoring just 12 runs in his previous four innings.
It was not Massalage’s first double hundred, the big-hitting batsman smashed 226 for United Tarneit Sports Club in the Western Suburbs Churches and Community Cricket Association last season.
Diggers Rest Bulla reached 4-450 from its 80 overs with Sunbury United facing a mammoth challenge this weekend.
Fernando finished unbeaten on 89, while Matthew Livingstone was the best of United’s bowlers with 2-89.
After strong early-season form, Massalage said his club was capable of claiming the premiership.
“We have a very strong team, a very talented team and a very experienced team,” he said.
“We have good team spirit, that’s very important.”
After finishing fourth last season and falling to eventual premier Bacchus Marsh in the semi-final, Diggers Rest Bulla is eyeing off a breakthrough grand final appearance.
Elsewhere, ladder-leader Gisborne made short work of St Anthony’s, claiming first-innings points after bowling the home team out for 90 and reaching 1-173 at stumps.
Bacchus Marsh is also in the box seat for an outright victory after skittling Woodend of 82 before declaring at 3-99.
Woodend was 0-34 in its second innings at the close.
Romsey (1-46) holds the upper hand against Riddell (149) after Taylor Stevenson collected 5-23 from 18 overs.