A brutal batting performance from hard-hitting opening batsman Jayanga Peiris against Paynesville last Saturday at AJ Freeman Reserve has set Meerlieu up for its fourth straight victory in Bairnsdale Cricket Association round five action.
Peiris smacked a 70-ball century on the way to a swashbuckling 126 from just 77 balls, including 15 boundaries and four huge maximums.
Despite losing Justin Morgan and Toby Jones early, Peiris continued to bat with limited conscience, flaying anything short or off the wickets to the boundaries on the spacious Paynesville outfield.
Peiris got good support from Zimbabwean all-rounder Connor Mitchell who contributed a run-a-ball 44, as the Tussocks set the foundation for a huge score.
Meerlieu eventually called an end to their onslaught after 44 overs with the score a remarkable 8/303, the Tussocks scoring at close to eight an over.
Skipper Rohan Blandford (16), Ollie Simpson (17), Reagan Kyle (35) and Jack McConachy (40 not out) all continued on the positive batting tone set by Peiris’ flaying blade.
Luke Bond (4/89) and Jake Keown (3/72) were the major wickettakers for the Gulls, with all the bowlers copping plenty of stick.
By stumps Paynesville had reached a respectable 3/122 from 36 overs, with impressive import Nathan Schoutz still at the crease on 54 from just 60 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a maximum.
Earlier Judd May (26) and Albie Clark (17) had battled hard against some good quality Tussock bowling, with McConachy, Simpson and Jones all taking a wicket each.
The third-placed Tussocks will be hoping to wrap the Gulls up quickly and push for an outright victory, with Schoutz the great hope for Paynesville as they chase an unlikely victory.
