ANDREW Petrie turned back the clock on Saturday to post his first century in his second coming to Sunraysia Cricket Association First Division, putting defending champions Mildura Settlers in the box seat to extend their golden finals record.
The 40-year-old, who returned this season after three years in retirement, made 102 not out from 142 balls to help steer fourth-placed Setts to 8/261 in their final-round two-day home clash with fifth-placed Mildura West.
Petrie has had a lean trot with the bat since his return to the field this season. However, he easily eclipsed his previous highest score of 30 at a time when Setts most needed him.
It leaves Setts, who have won eight top-grade premierships since the 2007-08 season, in a strong position to defend their total and edge out West for a finals berth when play resumes on Saturday.
Petrie gave an insight into what helped him turn the corner.
“My balance and footwork wasn’t good enough, and I’d been finding soft ways to get out,” he said.
“It’s really important for any batter to learn from mistakes, so I went out (on Saturday) with slight adjustments in my stance and to be more confident in what I needed to do, especially in such a crunch game for the club.
“Confidence is such a priceless thing in any sport. I was very much in my shell early on in the season. I wasn’t taking on any bowlers.
“But I felt much more confident and focused on what I needed to do. It wasn’t easy, but I made the most of any bad ball that came along.”
Setts’ innings was teetering on the brink when they were 5/127, but a pivotal sixth-wicket partnership between Petrie and first-gamer Aidan Riordan (11 off 67 balls) helped steady the ship.
It came as West spinner Aaron Feroz (5/69) was threatening to slice through Setts’ middle order.
Setts captain Braidyn Turner said he was “pretty stoked” in how the first day turned out for his team.
“That’s the first part of the job done. It’s the first time we’ve batted our full 80 overs all season,” Turner said.
“We just have to make sure we come out and bowl and field as well as we can on day two.
“If we hold West to less than 260, then we’ll make the finals. And if that happens, I’m confident we’re peaking for a run at another premiership.”
In other games on Saturday, top-placed Gol Gol posted a total of 147 against third-placed Coomealla Wentworth at Alcheringa Oval after winning the toss.
Wade Hancock led the way for home side with a knock of 70, which included three sixes and four boundaries.
In reply, Coomy will resume on day two at 1/20 after Riley Burns dismissed opener Liam Freeman for a golden duck.
At Chaffey Park, cellar-dwellers Mildura East – led by 71 from veteran Tom Vadlja – made 7/186 off their 80 overs against Merbein South.
Elsewhere, second-placed Irymple dismissed home side Nichols Point for 122 off 47.4 overs, with Chase Stone and Dean Fairlie picking up three wickets apiece.
Irymple looked set for victory after nudging to 4/83 at stumps.
