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Sport

22 January, 2024

Classy Zach Graham century gives Laane the advantage

PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 238 v BEAUFORT 0/6 A classy century from Zach Graham was the tonic Laanecoorie Dunolly needed after looking in a little bit of trouble against Beaufort on day one at Goldfields Reserve. Laane were...

By Michael Thompson

Classy Zach Graham century gives Laane the advantage - feature photo

PHIL HOOPER INSURANCE A GRADE LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY 238 v BEAUFORT 0/6

A classy century from Zach Graham was the tonic Laanecoorie Dunolly needed after looking in a little bit of trouble against Beaufort on day one at Goldfields Reserve.

Laane were restricted to 7/141 at one stage, before Graham’s heroics allowed them to put up a formidable 238, with his 105 his first century since the final home-and-away round of 2021 against MKM.

Batting first, Laane were on the back foot early when Joe Kingsbury removed Sam Bartlett for a duck, and soon after Joe Lovel went as well, with Craig Grant taking a catch off son Ben.

Tom Hannett and Sergio Rosier worked together to get the score up for Laane, with Hannett in particular putting together another solid score.

Rosier was next to go, clean bowled by Lachlan Oddie, and Oddie would soon have another wicket when he caught Nathan Leist off his own bowling.

Big wickets were still coming for Beaufort. First, Ben trapped Hannett in front for 58, before another big wicket came Oddie’s way, with Shannon Brown catching Matt Smith for 25.

When Oddie had his fourth wicket, with Jack Smith catching Jarred Russell, Laane were seven wickets down and in need of runs.

Luckily, Graham was able to do so when they needed it most. Combining with Thang Nguyen, it was a partnership full of expansive shots from Graham, as well as discipline from Nguyen, who kept hold of his wicket to give Graham the strike.

Eventually, Graham would pass 100, which was achieved just in time as Nguyen and Josh Britten would be Oddie’s fifth and sixth victims as the innings closed with Laane on 238 — a good score on the Goldfields Reserve pitch.

Graham’s unbeaten 105 was showstopping, while Oddie’s efforts shouldn’t be overlooked, taking 6/63 off 21 overs.

Ben was also very good from his 13 overs, taking 2/38.

Beaufort negotiated the final six overs of play, with Kriss Ellis unbeaten on one and Nick Cushing unbeaten on four.

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