Premier Cricket 2018-19: Blake Thomson hits century as Melbourne rattles up tall total against Essendon
Openers Blake Thomson and Charles Lill put on 197 as Melbourne made Essendon regret its decision to bowl first on Saturday at the Albert Ground.
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Essendon asked Melbourne to bat at the Albert Ground on Saturday.
Bat the Demons did.
They batted all day, cracking 5-347 off 96 overs in the Round 12 Premier match.
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Blake Thomson (148) and Charles Lill (89) raised 197 for the first wicket.
Lill, playing only his fourth match in the First XI, faced 178 deliveries and hit 13 boundaries.
It was Thomson’s third century in Premier Cricket and his 229-ball stay included 16 fours.
Captain Matthew Brown (45) and Meyrick Buchanan (39no) added runs in the final session as the Demons gave 350 a nudge against a strong attack.
“The openers were exceptional,’’ Brown said this morning.
“At one stage I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a hit.
“They both defended extremely well for the first hour, but any loose balls went to the fence. It was perfect.’’
He said Thomson batted as well as he had during his matchwinning century against Prahran last season.
“He keeps sending messages to the right people, that he still wants to be looked at for higher honours,’’ Brown said.
“He struck the ball beautifully yesterday. His (strokes) backward of point, just in front of point were a feature and he took the ones and twos he needed to. Pretty much chanceless as well.’’
As for Lill, Brown said he had “probably the best technique at the club in terms of back foot and forward defence’’.
“He’s got some real belief now. He’s going to be that missing link for us in the opening position.’’
At Ringwood, St Kilda captain Michael Beer marked his induction to the Cricket Victoria 200 Club with a remarkable spell of bowling.
The former Test man sent down 20 maidens off 29.1 overs that brought him 5-23.
It was his 13th five-wicket haul for the Sainters and it followed his hat-trick against Greenvale Kangaroos.
Beer’s 200 Club membership is made up of 159 Premier First XI matches, six one-dayers for Victoria and 35 Twenty20 appearances in the Big Bash for Melbourne Stars.
“Bits and pieces here and there that added up to 200,’’ Beer said.
“It might be something down the track where I can have a beer with a couple of my mates from St Kilda who have done the same.’’
As for the five-four in his milestone match: “It was just nice to try to keep it tight and keep pressure on Ringwood as a bowling unit.’’
On a slow pitch, Ringwood was restricted to 184 off 96.2 overs, thankful for Joe Loorham’s 48.
“He batted really well,’’ Beer said of Loorham.
“He sort of batted out of his comfort zone and defended for a fair while before flicking the switch. We could learn from the way he batted.’’
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