A blazing century and a five-wicket haul from Harry Morrow set up a huge victory for Bective East against Gunnedah in second grade cricket at Riverside last Saturday.

Three wickets to William Hicks and an innings of 63 from Jayden Winsor were bright notes for Gunnedah, but the hosts powered to a 178-run triumph after amassing nearly 300 runs in their 40 overs.

Bective East began uncertainly as opener and captain Chris Paterson retired in the fifth over, before the first wicket fell just moments later.

Another wicket in the following over reduced the hosts to 2-28, but the signs were ominous for Gunnedah as Morrow hit the second and third balls he faced to the boundary.

The third wicket fell at 67 before two century partnerships unfolded, with Morrow doing the bulk of the damage as he hammered 17 fours and two sixes in his 142 from just 97 balls.

Gunnedah’s bowlers did themselves no favours as they gave away 40 runs in wides, and Bective East finished on 6-296 after the final over contained 11 runs and a wicket.

Winsor and opening partner Josh Langdon put on a 51-run partnership, but it took up more than 13 overs before the rest of the batting crumbled.

Langdon’s score of 10 was the second highest for Gunnedah.

Greg Tighe took the first wicket as well as two middle order wickets, before Morrow bagged five of the final six wickets.

Winsor faced 94 balls and found the boundary 10 times before he was lbw to Morrow, leaving Gunnedah 7-111 in the 31st over.

Morrow’s fourth scalp came from the final ball of his fifth over, before he finished the match with the first delivery of his sixth over.

For the next two Saturdays, Gunnedah will host City United at Kitchener Park.

Bective East 6-296 (Harry Morrow 142, Shahid Khalfan 39; William Hicks 3-39) defeated Gunnedah 118 (Jayden Winsor 63; Harry Morrow 5-12, Greg Tighe 3-21) by 178 runs.

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