MPCA: Centuries galore and bags of wickets in memorable round

Huge centuries and bags of wickets…a string of breathtaking performances has lit up the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.

Chris Cay walks off after scoring his 12th century for Balnarring. Picture: Facebook

Batters went big in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association on Saturday.

A stack of centuries were scored throughout the grades — the tallest coming from the bat of Balnarring’s Chris Cay, who carried his bat to make 173no, with 21 boundaries, against Langwarrin in A4 grade.

It was Cay’s 12th century for Balnarring, putting him in the lead for the most centuries at the club across all grades.

Other big scores:

*Ben King’s extraordinary run spree continued for French Island. After last round blitzing 321no — an all-time MPCA record score — he followed it with 147 (8 fours, 11 sixes) against Heatherhill on Saturday in A1 grade. That’s 468 runs in two innings by the hard-hitting left hander.

He now has his sights on the MPCA record of 1280 runs in a season.

French Isand record breaker Ben King. Picture: Jorja Gay

*Delacombe Park’s Daniel Schwarze hammered 168 (11 sixes and 11 fours) against Crib Point in A3. The former Kingston Saints captain shared a 294-run third wicket partnership with William Mallinson (114no) in a score of 4-321.

*Justin Grant notched his seventh MPCA First XI century when he made 101 for Old Peninsula. It was his second hundred for the Pirates, following five tons for Mt Eliza. With Grant in vintage form, Old Peninsula racked up 8-318.

Old Peninsula skipper Justin Grant.

*Madu Perera scored a superb century, 140no, for Moorooduc in Peninsula 1sts. He went in at 1-4 and batted throughout the day as the Ducs made 9-236 against Dromana.

*Main Ridge champion Travis Barker scored his ninth century, making 128no (16 fours, 1 six) in the Cougars Second XI. Barker also has a double century to his name.

*Shaun Foster scored his fifth century for Carrum, smacking 111 against Seaford in District 1sts.

*Talk about the highs and lows of cricket…Long Island A1 captain Curtis Lang was on the receiving end of batting blitz last round when French Island smashed 602, but on Saturday he enjoyed his own moment in the sun, cracking 121, his maiden century for the club.

*There were twin tons for Hastings in C2, with Josh Scrivano (111no) and Jack Winton (103) both raising their bats for maiden tons.

*Flinders skipper Blake Hogan-Keogh peeled off a superb century, 110no, to steer the Sharks to 197 against Heatherhill in Peninsula 1sts. His 183-ball stay included 15 boundaries.

*Skye’s David Dervan blasted his second century of the season, 119no, in C2 grade.

*Chrs Richmond smacked his second ton for Crib Point, making 100 (13 fours, 3 sixes) in the Magpies twos.

There was also bowling brilliance around the grounds on Saturday.

*Mt Eliza seamer Tom Baron bowled a marathon 39 overs and took 6-81, with 11 maidens, to help dismiss Seaford Tigers for 154 in Peninsula 1sts. It was the seventh time he’s taken five wickets or more in an innings for the Mounties.

Jack and Chris Hay. Picture: Facebook

*Red Hill paceman Glenn Collett ripped through Sorrento with a stunning collect of 7-74 off 25 overs. It was short of his career best 8-23 in a semi-final.

*Heatherhill quickie Adeel Hussain was at his hostile best, capturing 7-44 off 16 overs, against Flinders in Peninsula 1sts. Hussain bowled with fire early on to have Flinders reeling at 2-5, with Kane Hawkns and Sam Gove both out.

*Langwarrin swing bowler Damian Moresco took 7-37 off 17 overs in A3 grade.

There was a superb fielding display, with Delacombe Park 2nd XI wicketkeeper Bailey McFarlane taking six catches on Saturday.

A special moment at Long Island, with young Jack Hay making his First XI debut alongside his dad, Chris “Cocky’’ Hay. The Hays are the third father-son duo to play in Long Island’s 1st XI after the McLeods and Burkes.