GEORGE Munsey continued his early season pyrotechnics with another outrageous display of big-hitting as Eastern Knight opened their Pro50 title defence by thumping Western Warriors at The Grange on Sunday 28th April.
Fresh from a 35-ball century for Gloucestershire 2ndXI last week, Munsey raced to three figures again – this time from 37 balls – as the Knights posted an imposing 370-5 en route to completing a commanding 160-run win.
The left-hander had been given a solid platform by Preston Mommsen, who stroked a fluent 40, and Dylan Budge who also went on to reach three figures.
However, at 145-3 when Munsey strode to the crease, there was little hint that the Edinburgh-based side would be able to add a further 225 runs from the final nineteen overs.
Munsey had other ideas!
The left-hander, oozing confidence, was quickly off the mark and raced to 50 from only 18 deliveries as the Warriors bowlers toiled.
Nor did Munsey have any thoughts of taking the foot off the gas, his second 50 coming from only one delivery more and featuring a string of sixes out of the ground and causing the umpires to call for at least four replacement balls.
By the time he was out, bowled by Ross Lyons, the Scotland batsman had reached 139 with a remarkable fifteen maximums and a trifling seven boundaries, putting the Knights well on their way to a winning total.
Budge, content to watch his partner’s heroics, took up the attack in the closing six overs and duly reached a beautifully compiled century from 114 balls before being caught for 117 by Tom Jones off the bowling of Richie Berrington in the final over.
Chasing such a daunting target, the Warriors clearly needed to come out firing in the hope of making a brisk start. Instead both openers, Mo Awais and Matthew Cross, departed cheaply – both to the impressive Elliot Ruthven.
The rebuilding job required of Calum MacLeod and Michael Jones meant that required run-rate continued to rise for the visitors while the Knights bowlers applied the pressure.
Jones (32) helped add 67 for the third wicket before being bowled by Finn McCreath while MacLeod, having made 42, was trapped in front by James Dickinson soon after.
There were further cameos from Berrington (26) and Tom Bradburn, who top-scored with 49 including five fours and a six, but the home bowlers were in control, Ruthven ending the match in the 41stover with his fourth wicket, a haul matched by McCreath.
