Sunbury Kangaroos eyeing first GDCA McIntyre Cup finals appearance

Jason King’s maiden McIntyre Cup century for Sunbury Kangaroos has the club on the verge of a historic top-four finish but it faces a tough road home.

Jason King in action for Sunbury Kangaroos. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Jason King’s maiden McIntyre Cup century has Sunbury Kangaroos on the cusp of history.

A commanding 211-run victory over Macedon on Saturday has the Kangaroos in the box seat for a first top-flight GDCA finals appearance.

With two rounds remaining, Sunbury is fourth, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Woodend, but faces a difficult run home with two-day matches against undefeated Gisborne and third-placed Sunbury United.

The club will be looking to replicate its impressive performance from the past fortnight, posting an imposing 8-351 before rolling the Cats for 140.

King smashed 122 from 196 balls, hitting 12 boundaries.

Jason King in action for Sunbury Kangaroos. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The ton was his 10th for the Kangaroos but first at the level after first suiting up in 2003-04 and is now up to 422 runs at 52.75 for the season – ranked 10th in the competition.

King and opening partner Corey Woolley (73) put on a 133-run partnership, while coach Graeme Bennett added 76 not out from just 67 balls.

Bennett said it was fantastic to see the players get around King after his breakthrough knock.

“Jason has been at the club longer than the club’s been around,” Bennett said.

“He’s one of your cricket diehards … it’s his 10th century for the club but the first he’s made in McIntyre though.

“It was really good to see his consistency this season come through and get to three figures.

“He got dropped on one or two and really made them pay and everyone got around him (after).

“Corey made 70-odd as well and that set the standard and gave us the platform.

“From that point on, with wickets in hand, we were able to capitalise on a tiring Macedon team in 30-odd degrees – it was a really good toss to win.”

Sunbury then carried its batting form into its bowling.

In a coach’s dream, seven different Kangaroos claimed a wicket with King leading the way with 2-20, while Bennett nabbed 2-21.

“Jason and myself got two but Corey, Michael (Fox), Adam (Fearnley), Dylan (Caruana) and Mace Green all got one, so it goes to show we’re not relying on one or two guys,” Bennett said.

“Everyone is doing their job and when the ball gets thrown to them they know they’ve got a job to do.

“And they know if it’s an off-day for them then we’ve got other people that can do it.

“It was a very good win, considering Macedon beat us early in the year.

“To come back and beat them quite comfortably is a testament to the boys and how hard they’ve been working through the season.”

Attention now turns to the final two rounds and ending Gisborne’s undefeated season.

The Dragons claimed a seven-wicket win, chasing down 218, in a one-dayer earlier in the season.

Bennett knows his team must win at least one of the final two games to lock in a first ever McIntyre Cup semi-final finish.

“I’m not counting our chickens yet, we’ve got two very tough games to come,” he said.

“We believe we need to win at least one of these games to make it, if we win one I’m confident.

“If we drop both then it’s certainly not guaranteed, I think Woodend have Rupo this weekend and then Gisborne.

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“It would be the first time in the club’s history we’ve made McIntyre Cup finals.

“To be on track to do that at the moment – obviously with a lot of cricket still to be played – is a real positive.

“You can feel it around the club, everyone is up and about, and the Seconds have won the last two games as well – they hadn’t won a game before that.”

Elsewhere, Gisborne chased down Sunbury United’s 303 for a four-wicket win, Woodend claimed a comfortable 208-run win over Diggers Rest Bulla and Romsey’s 9-444 was too much for Rupertswood in a 233-run loss.