Bairnsdale Cricket Association’s (BCA) 2024/25 campaign is off to a flying start with a 122-run demolition of Leongatha in round one of the Gippsland Cricket League at Leongatha Secondary College last Sunday.
Bairnsdale batted first and posted an outstanding score of 9/253 from its allotted 50 overs, highlighted by a splendid century from opener Cameron McPhan, whose 100 came off 133 balls and was the cornerstone for the imposing total.
McPhan formed solid partnerships with fellow opener Brodie Anderson (17), the hard-hitting Jayanga Peiris (33 from 31 balls) and skipper Ryan Halford (43 from 29) before Nathan Schoultz (19) and Seth Smith made solid contributions towards the end of the innings.
It was a new-look Bairnsdale side with McPhan back in the mix after returning to the area to live and overseas imports Connor Mitchell, Jack Timms, Schoultz, Toby Jones and Luke Bond all in the line-up for the first time.
Former Sale-Maffra star Isaac Love also debuted for the BCA.
Leongatha was solid enough early in the run chase, but just kept losing the wickets of batsmen who had done the hard work to get in on a pitch which offered plenty of rewards if you got set.
Leongatha needed someone to lead the way like McPhan but that player couldn’t be found, eventually rolled for 132 in the 38th over with Mitchell the star, taking 4/29. Love mopped up the tail taking 2/9.
The next match is on Sunday, November 10 when the BCA hosts arch enemy Sale Maffra in the Bairnsdale region.
