KINGBOROUGH captain Dylan Hay has played a superb skipper’s knock to have the Knights in a dominant position after day one of the first two-day game of the CTPL season.
The Knights had moved to third on the ladder with two wins, a loss and a wash out from their first four games, but those victories were largely on the back of lower order runs.
However, the top-order clicked into top gear against Glenorchy, led by Hay, who is leading the club for the first time in all formats.
Batting at No.4 and coming to the crease at 2-34, Hay put together his highest first grade score and the highest individual CTPL score of the season to date in making an unbeaten 185 from 273 balls.
He shared century partnerships with Trent Rollins (86) and Zac Curtain (70) as Kingborough posted a huge 4-370 at stumps on day one – with the duo joining Hay in posting personal bests in the CTPL’s top grade.
Hay said the lack of top-order runs had been spoken about despite the strong start to the season.
“We identified that our top order had to better with 30s and 40s not going to win us games of cricket,” Hay said.
“A lot didn’t have to change; in the first few games we were facing plenty of balls and getting ourselves in but then losing wickets in clumps and putting pressure on our lower order who have been fantastic.
“They have got us home in two games so it was nice to take some pressure off them yesterday.
“It’s probably more of a mental thing getting starts and throwing it away.
“It was really nice to see Zac and Trent contribute as well with both of them scoring their highest first grade scores.
“It sets us up nicely with 370 on the board and gives our bowlers every chance next week to take 10 wickets and hopefully come away with the points.”
New Town’s Jayden Vince (104 not out) was the other century-maker on the day, as he helped lift the Bucks from 7-153 to 9-299 against Lindisfarne at New Town Oval.
Lighting coach Matt Wilkie, who retired after last season, made a comeback, and starred on return taking 4-27.
North Hobart is dominating its contest with the Greater Northern Raiders at the TCA Ground.
The Demons didn’t have it all its own way after going from 2-131 to 202 all out with big Billy Stanlake (4-16) shining with the ball.
But Alex Pyecroft then ran through the Raiders top order, taking 4-24 to leave the visitors in tatters at stumps at 5-51.
Roos captain Michael Jones was the standout with 86 in Clarence’s 289 first innings score against University at University Oval but their day got better just before stumps.
Needing to survive six overs before the end of play, the Lions lost Tom Chapman for a second ball duck after being trapped in front by Kieran Elliot and will resume next week at 1-15.
Clarence’s women’s team is still looking for its first victory of the season after being dominated by North Hobart – specifically Demons’ captain Ella Marsh.
In the only game on Sunday, Marsh bamboozled the Clarence’s batters, taking an unbelievable 6-12 from four overs as the Roos were dismissed for just 94 in the T20 clash.
The Demons cruised to victory losing just two wickets and reaching the meagre target with 34 balls to spare.
In Thursday’s one-day round of the men’s competition, Lindisfarne pulled off a final-ball thriller in a one-wicket win over South Hobart-Sandy Bay.
Chasing the Sharks 6-297, the Lightning needed two runs off the final ball with Ihsan Ul-Haq on strike and the No.11 achieved the feat to secure the magical victory.
University duo Tim Oakley (5-22) and Paddy Dooley (4-6) combined to decimate Glenorchy, rolling the Magpies for just 56, a target chased down by the Lions in the 13th over for the loss of just one wicket.
Clarence’s 8-204 proved to be too much for North Hobart as Roos spin twins Blake Garrett (5-39) and Harry Allanby (4-37) rolled the Demons for 180, while Kingborough chased down New Town’s 9-180 with three wickets and three overs to spare.