Mick Allen’s career-high innings inspires Gisborne rout of Rupertswood
Like a fine wine, Mick Allen continues to astonish and the Gisborne star produced a career-best performance on Saturday.
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Evergreen Gisborne star Mick Allen had scored 21 centuries in one of Victorian cricket’s most distinguished careers.
On Saturday he scored his biggest, an outstanding 196 not out to inspire the Dragons to a 149-run thumping of GDCA rival Rupertswood at Gardiner Reserve.
The record-breaking knock came off 151 balls and included 22 boundaries and eight sixes.
A Ryder, Holton and Sullivan Medallist and VSDCA premiership winner, the innings is further proof Allen is maturing like a fine wine.
However, it wasn’t all plan sailing.
“It was very impressive,” Gisborne captain Jason Wilson said.
“He struggled for probably a lot of it, the first 15 overs to be honest.
“It took him 22 balls to get off the mark I think but that only makes it more impressive.
“He had to tough it out for a bit, he said when I got out there ‘I can’t hit it’, but then once he got going he hit it pretty well.
“Once he got to 100 he started to hit boundaries pretty consistently, I reckon it took him 33 overs to get to 100 and then he’s got 96 from the next 12 overs.”
The innings is the second highest First XI score in Gisborne history, behind Simon Harman’s 199 not out in 2008-09, also against Rupertswood.
Jason Goodall’s 297 against Romsey in D Grade in 2002-03 is the best knock in club history overall.
Wilson added a fighting 62 as Gisborne posted 3-291 from its 45 overs.
Facing an impossible task, Rupertswood were never in the hunt.
Opener Daniel Kavanagh top scored with 30 off 91 balls, while Warren Hall (18 off 52), Trent Hayes (29 off 55) and Ryley Davis (8 off 28) were equally defensive.
Wilson was not impressed by Rupo’s tactics.
“I’ll be brutal, it was disappointing they didn’t even make an effort to chase it, it was a very, very long 45 overs,” he said.
“The bloke who opened the batting made 30 off 91, they didn’t even try.
“They were never getting 290 but at least have a go.
“They’re coming up from second division and trying to develop but when you’re playing a full season of white ball cricket I don’t think it does anything for your guys to bat like a two-day game.
“Our boys were quite frustrated, especially the last 12 or 15 overs it dragged, when nothing’s happening and they’re not trying to makes it hard to get motivated.”
Wilson used nine bowlers, only himself and Pat McKenna not rolling the arm over, Darcy Thomas the best with 2-22.
The Dragons remain in third, three points behind Bacchus Marsh and six points ahead of Romsey, with reinforcements potentially on the way.
“Now Patty (McKenna) is available pretty much every game, we’re looking pretty strong,” he said.
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“We’ve had a few more guys commit to the rest of the season as well but they’re going to have to qualify in the twos.
“It strengthens the club down through the grades and we’ll have some good headaches at selection come finals.”
The Bulls (6-198) proved too good for East Sunbury (8-138), Romsey (1-131) disposed of Wallan (130), Woodend (6-184) defeated Diggers Rest Bulla (181) and Sunbury United (204) remain undefeated after smashing Sunbury Kangaroos (105).
Gisborne faces hosts East Sunbury on Saturday and Rupertswood travels to ladder-leader Sunbury United.
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