Worcestershire newcomer Ethan Brookes smashed 146 off just 71 balls for Prahran CC in a Victorian Premier Cricket T20 triumph over Footscray CC at the Mervyn Hughes Oval.
Brookes, who has signed a two year contract at New Road, produced an awesome display of power hitting on his return to action after the festive break.
He came in at 6-1 and hit TWELVE sixes and nine fours – a total of 116 in boundaries – in his second century of the winter.
The all-rounder shared in stands of 76 with Max Delaney and 56 with Kane Scott before he was finally fifth out with the total on 203 to the penultimate ball of the innings.
Prahran closed on 204-5 and then bowled out Footscray for 138 in 19.5 overs to win by 66 runs.
Brookes was then amongst the wickets as Prahran completed a weekend T20 double with a seven run win over Kingston Hawthorn.
He dismissed Hampshire’s white ball player Benny Howell for a single and also Joel Lewis (2) and had figures of 3-0-13-2.
A Kingston Hawthorn side, also containing Gloucestershire’s Jack Taylor, were bowled out for 117 in 19.5 overs in reply to Prahran’s 124-7 with Brookes scoring eight.
Adam Finch made a successful start to his second spell with Sturt CC as they defeated South Australia Cricket Association Under-19s by eight wickets in a SACA Premier Cricket first grade fixture.
The Worcestershire pace bowler took the new ball and picked up two wickets in his first action since returning from a back injury suffered in late July.
Finch began with a maiden and bowled an initial five over spell which brought him the wicket of Kyle Adams (1).
He swapped ends and bowled a further two overs during which he bowled Jack Matchett (6) to reduce SACA Under-19s to 46-4.
Finch finished with figures of 7-3-15-2 as SACA were bowled out for 79 in 29 overs.
Stuart then reached their modest target in just 9.2 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Finch spent an initial two month spell with Sturt last winter and will return to New Road in mid-March.
Cameron Jones played two important roles with the ball for Collingwood Park who defeated Manypeaks and Railway A to complete a Albany and Districts Cricket Association A grade double.
The pace bowler came into the attack first change and removed both openers after Manypeaks had reached 51-0 in the seventh over chasing a total of 131-9.
He dismissed vice-captain Kane Pinney (19) and nine runs later also sent back captain Seb Stanton (25).
Jones bowled three overs in one spell for figures of 2-15 and Collingwood Park gradually gained control in restricting their opponents to 119-8.
He continued his good work against Railway A after Collingwood Park had posted a total of 130-3.
Jones again made the first breakthrough in dismissing former Worcestershire Academy captain, Joe Stanley (19), with 40 on the board.
He bowled an initial three over spell inside the first 10 overs and then came back to dismiss vice-captain Mohit Jagg (32) in the 18th over.
Jones finished with 4-0-21-2 as Railways A fell just short on 127-6.
Gareth Roderick’s side, Green Point CC, had a bye in the Western Province Premier Division.
Ed Pollock and Josh Baker will return to action next weekend for St. George CC and Northern District CC respectively in the New South Wales Premier Cricket first grade.
Kashif Ali missed Ghani Glass’s most recent game in the President’s Trophy in Pakistan through illness but is set to return for their next four-day fixture beginning on January 15.
