IN-FORM batsman Shannon Bowen powered Nichols Point to an imposing total of 7-271 at the close of play in the Sunraysia Cricket Association First Division two-day game against Mildura Settlers on Saturday.
Batting at No.4, Bowen belted 118 off 165 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, after his team won the toss and elected to bat in the round 5 encounter at Mildura Senior College.
Coming on the heels of his 81 last round, Bowen has now racked up 223 runs this season at an average of 55.8.
Playing coach Luke Coates chimed in with a late cameo (46 not out off 44 balls), a week after his seven-wicket haul last round.
“It was difficult early in your innings, but once you got in, it made batting a lot easier,” Coates said.
“Shannon kept working with his batting partners to dig in and when he got the all clear (to open his shoulders), he went on and made his hundred.
“Shannon is a confidence player and he really has his tail up at the moment. He told me he’s seeing ’em like beach balls, so it’s great.”
Spearhead bowler Coates will be away for day two this Saturday, but he said he would be calling on his players to “keep things simple”.
“We’ll be down a bowler without me there, but the other bowlers are more than capable of getting the job done for us,” he said.
At Henshilwood Oval, Mildura West gun batsman Chris Williams made 82 in his team’s total of 125 on Saturday.
Ryan Muir was the chief destroyer for Irymple with 4-21.
In reply, the hosts will resume day two on 4/77.
At Chaffey Park, Coomealla Wentworth were bowled out for 165 off 66.3 overs.
Nafis Shaikh top-scored with 69, while opener Matt Job made a solid 39.
Merbein will resume on day two at 1/26, with Angus Lang and Kurtis Fitzpatrick at the crease.
The Gol Gol-Mildura East game will be a one-dayer this Saturday after the pitch at Brian Weightman Oval was ruled unfit for play at the weekend following the recent Mildura Show.
