Saturday Sundries | Runs, Forrest, runs in a batting-heavy edition of lower-grade highlights

The Lodgers batted first and soared to 9-293, aided by Manjit Buttar (89 not-out) and Tanner Webber (71) to put a mountain of runs in front of the Tigers.

To their credit, though, they picked up their proverbial picks and started hiking.

Central Park-St Brendan’s looked dead in the water at 6-57, but a staggering 192-run stand between Jack Hudson (107) and Travis Beck (80) launched the Tigers to 249 before the former holed out.

Though the Tigers wound up 29 runs short of the mark, a special mention goes to 15-year-old Hudson for making his debut ton.

Score blimey

Staying in the realm of D-grade swinging, one side made the big weapon sing in a rematch of Cricket Shepparton’s craziest game of the season.

Northerners versus Murchison: this was always going to be a famous affair.

The last time these two sides locked horns, Tim Brett claimed 8-0 and the Hoppers were bowled out for six runs as the Jets went on to win the game in four balls.

But on second attempt, this one went completely the other way.

Brett opened the batting and helped put on 113 runs for the first wicket, eventually taking leave for 67 off 41 balls.

Fellow opener Matthew Hall was the next to go for 84 off 76, and Preston Hall rounded out Northerners’ casualties as he departed for 85 off 42.

Leigh Miles wasn’t half bad either with 50 not-out, seeing the Jets reach 3-312.

Murchison put up a valiant fight with the stick but ultimately fell well short, seeing out the overs with two wickets remaining and 226 runs still needed for victory.

The Wright stuff

What happens when a Lightfoot Medallist drops down a grade?

Carnage, that’s what.

Katandra icon and 2022-23 league best-and-fairest Jedd Wright suited up for the Eagles in their Clyde Young Shield clash with Euroa, and though he didn’t feature with the ball, the classy all-rounder almost wrapped up first innings points off his own willow.

The Eagles bowled first and rolled Euroa for 96, with Wright then opening the batting and blasting 72 not-out (nine fours, two sixes) to have Katandra sitting at 0-92 at stumps.

It’s not the first time that one of ‘Bert’s disciples’ has made a cameo in the lower tiers this season, either.

Nick Breslin, the 2013-14 Lightfoot Medallist, packed away the golf clubs and came out of retirement to whack 19 not-out in Mooroopna’s nine-wicket win over Central Park-St Brendan’s a fortnight ago.