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New Norfolk all-rounder Stewart Rice with his sons Mitchell,
left, and Nathan, after scoring 324 runs last weekend. Photo
by Jamie Hill.

THERE have been some big scores made by batsmen in the Derwent Valley over the years, but Stewart Rice's innings of 324 not out off an estimated 125 balls last weekend topped the lot. Rice, batting at number five for New Norfolk in its SCA Second Grade match with the MacKillop Beltas, came to the crease in the 14th over with the score on 3 for 55. He blasted his way to a triple century in a team total of 7 for 492 off its 50 overs.

The scoresheet showing Rice's amazing run tally.

In a match that was eventually washed out, the veteran - soon to turn 46 - smashed the MacKillop bowlers to all parts of Tynwald Park oval, hitting an incredible 38 sixes and 10 fours. That's more sixes than many would hit in a career let alone in one innings. He twice hit four sixes in a row and at one stage seven straight scoring shots were all sixes. He shared a 252-run stand with Dave Maddox who scored 60 runs and an 111 partnership with Josh Dykes who remained 20 not out. It was an amazing innings.

So far this season Rice has now hit up 840 runs from 10 innings (twice being not out) and there are seven roster matches remaining. The Beltas' bowling figures ended like a train wreck with Rice derailing them all, with Tim Bingham copping the worst figures with 0 for 96 off 8 overs. Amazingly, Rice didn't score off the first six deliveries he faced. The Beltas will be gritting their teeth after dropping the master blaster on several occasions - the worst being when he was on just eight runs.

For the record, the highest score by a batsman in the Southern Cricket Association is David Brown who in the 2008/09 season made 351 in the Marquis Tigers score of 8 for 559 off 50 overs on the small Lansdowne ground against a  Bagdad team which had only seven players. Rice's 324 not out is now the highest score in second grade/division 2. This was previously held by Andrew Donaghy who made 182 not out for Claremont against McRobies Gully in 2007/08. Well done Stewart Rice, your innings is a terrific effort. Sons Mitchell and Nathan will be wanting him to play on next season.

The other two Second Grade matches of Round 11 were also affected by rain. After Richmond/Cambridge made 9 for 230 off 50 overs, Gretna started very well and then with the rain delays the target was revised to 153 and the home team reached it with the loss of just two wickets. Gretna had to face 25 overs to constitute a match so Mathew Burns (83) and Rhys Browning (33) had to return to the middle to face a further five overs even though the match had been won. A very strange ending to say the least!.

In the Bushy Park v Molesworth match, Bushy Park scored 8-220 off 50 overs with Mitch Crosswell top-scoring with 62 and the Grant brothers Nathan (33) and Dylan (31) also doing well. The Molesworth bowlers shared the wickets with two each with Dean King the best with 2-11 off 5. Molesworth started its innings, but with the rain continuing to fall the match was eventually washed out.

Dylan Pearce.

In Fourth Grade, 17-year-old Gretna opener Dylan Pearce made an excellent 102. Batting for 49 overs, he hit 11 fours and a six and was a pleasure to watch. Gretna finished with 6-225 with Matthew Eyles also having a great day making 39 runs and then capturing 6 for 33 to skittle the Old Beach batsmen and give Gretna another good win.

In Fifth Grade, Molesworth II youngsters Cody Neads and Josh Ransley helped their team to 51-run victory over St Aidans on Saturday at Boyer Oval. Neads batted very well, just missing out on a century with 92 runs and two wickets while Ransley sent down 10 overs taking 5-32. New Norfolk II also notched up a very good win in Fifth Grade, defeating Old Beach by 93 runs. Captain Stephen Nichols lead the way top-scoring with 69 while Josh Walsh made 48 and Jamie Hill 45. Walsh and Hill capped off a great day, capturing three wickets each.

Congratulations to Damien Hack on playing his 100th match for Gretna I on Saturday. Also a big well done to Gretna I player Jackson Ackerly who took 5-6 in Round 10 against Bushy Park. Fine figures Jacko - we will have to check the club record books. Also a big happy 60th birthday to Gretna president Peter Rainbird - a victory by Gretna I on Sunday was a great gift.

Best wishes to Bushy Park life member Shaun "Lugsy" Fenton and his partner Rachel with their move interstate. Shaun has been a great contributor for the Bushy Park Cricket Club and his shoes will be hard to fill. Well done cobber.

ROUND 11 RESULTS - JANUARY 5
SECOND GRADE - New Norfolk I 7 for 492 off 50 overs (23 extras) v MacKillop Beltas 3 for 10 off 6 overs (4 extras) at Tynwald Park, match washed out. New Norfolk batting: Stewart Rice 324 (10x4s, 38x6s), Dave Maddox 60 (5x4s, 2x6s), Jake King 29 (1x4, 2x6s), Josh Dykes 20 not out (1x4, 1x6), Jamie Maddox 19 (2x4s), Rohan Heron 13 (1x4). New Norfolk bowling: Josh Dykes 2-2 (3), Josh Rowlands 1-4 (2).

Gretna I 2 for 153 (revised total) off 25 overs (14 extras) d Richmond/Cambridge 9 for 230 off 50 overs (17 extras) at Gretna - rain-affected match. Gretna batting: Mathew Burns 83no (7x4s, 5-6s), Rhys Browning 33no (2x4s), Glenn Blackwell 20 (3x4s, 1x6). Gretna bowling: Todd Jarvis 2-16 (3), Daniel Browning 2-32 (6), Aaron Maddox 1-31 (10), Corey Ransley 1-45 (10), Jackson Ackerly 1-58 (10).

Bushy Park 8 for 220 off 50 overs (31 extras) v Molesworth I 0 for 16 off 5 overs (5 extras) at Bushy Park Showground, match washed out. Bushy Park - batting: Mitchell Crosswell 62, Nathan Grant 33no, Dylan Grant 31, Troy Smith 19, Danny Mason 18, Geoff Crosswell 12. Molesworth I - bowling: Dean King 2-11 (5), Matthew Smith 2-32 (9), Aaron Triffitt 2-32 (6), Larry Menzie 2-51 (10). Molesworth I - batting: Daniel Adams 3no, Nick Piuselli 8no. Bushy Park - bowling: Not available.

ROUND 11 RESULTS - JANUARY 4
FOURTH GRADE - Gretna II 6 for 225 off 50 overs (18 extras) d Old Beach 10 for 157 off 34.4 overs (16 extras) at Gretna. Gretna II batting: Dylan Pearce 102 (11x4s, 1x6), Matthew Eyles 39 (3x4s, 1x6), Brian Smith 26 (2x4s, 1x6), Peter Jelkic 27 (1x4, 1x6). Gretna II bowling: Matthew Eyles 6-33 (10), Cody Eyles 2-11 (5.4), Brock Nichols 2-35 (6).

FIFTH GRADE - New Norfolk II 8 for 253 off 50 overs (18 extras) d Old Beach 10 for 160 off 41.2 overs (17 extras) at Old Beach. New Norfolk batting: Stephen Nichols 69 (8x4s, 3x6s), Josh Walsh 48 (6x4s), Jamie Hill 45 (3x4s), Mitchell Rice 29 (2x4s, 2x6s), Chris Ashcroft 20 (3x4s), Leigh Berry 12 (2x4s). New Norfolk bowling: Josh Walsh 3-20 (6), Jamie Hill 3-38 (10), Brad Kemmler 1-26 (10), Richard Munnings 1-46 (10), Richard Graham 1-2 (1.2).

Molesworth II 10 for 232 off 47.5 overs (36 extras) d St Aidans 10 for 181 off 36.2 (26 extras) at Boyer Oval. Molesworth batting: Cody Neads 92 (9x4s, 1x6), Brayden Hodge 49 (2x4s, 2x6s), Brad Ransley 20 (2x4s), J. Mallinson 11. Molesworth bowling: Josh Ransley 5-32 (10), Cody Neads 2-15 (4), Daniel Coppleman 2-23 (4.5), Tyson Gray 1-27 (6).

ROUND 10 RESULTS - DECEMBER 21
SECOND GRADE - New Norfolk I 7 for 254 off 50 overs (32 extras) d Richmond/Cambridge 8 for 188 off 50 overs (25 extras) at Richmond. New Norfolk batting: Adrian Eiszele 62no (8x4s), Stewart Rice 44 (4x4s, 3x6s), Leigh Berry 41 (5x4s), Rohan Heron 33 (5x4s), Jamie Maddox 19no (2x4s, 1x6), David Maddox 17 (3x4s). New Norfolk bowling: Adrian Eiszele 2-43 (8), Stewart Rice 1-16 (10), Josh Rowlands 1-27 (10), Jamie Maddox 1-32 (10), Leigh Berry 1-32 (4).

Gretna I 5 for 135 off 27 overs (22 extras) d Bushy Park 10 for 132 off 46 overs (20 extras) at Bushy Park Showground. Gretna I - batting: Damien Hack 38no (6x4s), Aaron Maddox 35no (6x4s), Ben Rainbird 24 4x4s, Glenn Blackwell 10 (2x4s). Bushy Park - bowling: Nathan Grant 2-26 (7), Troy Smith 1-26 (7), Dylan Grant 1-26 (6), Mitchell Crosswell 1-29 (5). Bushy Park - batting: Mitchell Crosswell 45, Shaun Fenton 22, Geoff Crosswell 15. Gretna I - bowling: Jackson Ackerly 5-6 (7), Craig Cunningham 2-26 (8), Aaron Maddox 2-32 (10), Daniel Browning 1-21 (6).

Montagu Bay 8 for 255 off 50 overs (30 extras) d Molesworth I 10 for 129 off 33 overs (21 extras) at Geilston Bay. Molesworth batting: Nathan Eiszele 31 (3x4s, 1x6), Brad Coppleman 24 (3x4s), Jamie Adams 21 (2x4s), Josh Bomford 11. Molesworth bowling: Tim Nichols 3-61 (10), Larry Menzie 2-38 (10), Nathan Eiszele 2-40 (10).

FOURTH GRADE - Gretna II 2 for 75 off 18.4 overs (16 extras) d Wellington 10 for 72 off 26.3 overs (24 extras) at Gretna. Gretna batting: Peter Jelkic 26 (4x4s), Rhys Browning 12no (1x4), Jordan Hastie 11no, Dylan Pearce 11 (1x4). Gretna bowling: Brock Nichols 4-24 (10), Adam Browning 3-30 (8), Peter Jelkic 2-9 (5), Cody Eyles 1-6 (3.3).

ROUND 10 RESULTS - DECEMBER 22
FIFTH GRADE - New Norfolk II 5 for 130 off 31 overs (15 extras). Molesworth II did not bat. Played at Tynwald Park, match washed out. New Norfolk batting: B Skelly 39 (2x4s), Thomas Hanson 24 (2x4s), Stephen Nichols 22no (3x4s), Jamie Hill 17, Ashley Morgan 14 (1x4, 1x6). Molesworth bowling: Jye County 3-48 (8), Brayden Hodge 1-19 (5), Aaron Triffitt 1-21 (7).