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Thomas on fire with a classy ton as Bluff Point beat Sportsmans in Geraldton cricket

Victor TantiGeraldton Guardian
Mitch McAuliffe, Sam Millett and Aaron Thomas.
Camera IconMitch McAuliffe, Sam Millett and Aaron Thomas. Credit: Arctic Moon

On Saturday, Bluff Point’s Aaron Thomas belted one of the greatest hundreds in the Geraldton Regional Cricket Board’s 59 years.

It brought victory over Sportsmans at Muir Park and a top-three place. Sportsmans’ Riley Barham won the toss and batted.

Despite runs from Graeme Barndon (32) and Clint Yeates (18), they were 6-108 before Jarrod Jupp (37) and Zac Middleton (41) took them to 9-198.

Mitch McAuliffe (2-27), Carl Shilling (2-26) and Thomas (2-16) bowled well. The Pointers were 2-8 in the reply, with Yeates (2-52) in his fifth over on figures of 2-11.

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In came Thomas to face him.

He hit his first ball for six, took 16 off Yeates’ next over, and went on to make 50 in 22 balls and 100 in 44.

He ended with 117 (57 balls) with 12 fours and nine sixes. When out to Dan Welsh (3-34), every Sportsmans player ran to him to slap his back or shake his hand.

With him in a stand of 134 was Jay O’Brien (45 off 136 balls) who stayed cool even when the Pointers lost 3-17 from when Thomas fell, and was there when the win came.

Matt Russell (25) also did well. Carl Shilling (22 not out) put the cream on the cake.

“I’ve been struggling for runs this season,” Thomas said. “So, I thought ‘let’s clear the mind and see ball, hit ball’ — that often doesn’t work but it was my day.

“Batting with Jay was reassuring, he kept saying ‘play your game and I’ll watch’.

“We lost wickets with the target in sight and I was regretting we let Sporties get away, but we got there.”

At Nabawa, Chapman Valley-Northampton beat Wanderers. Kade Gillingham batted after he won the toss and Matt Partington (39), Jack Annison (17) and Jason Partington (38) made runs.

Cody Slootmans (3-23), Zac Williamson (2-20), Axis Hutchinson (2-35) and James Billing (2-8) shone.

Ashley Campbell (53 off 29 balls) relished chasing 142 to win. He quickly put on 58 with Slootmans before Gus Heberle (3-28) and Jason Partington (2-43) reduced CVN to 5-113.

Bobby Gibson (35) hit out, and though out to Zayne Gray (2-49) with two runs needed, CVN made 213 thanks to Hutchinson (17) and Jack Mickle (28).

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