Connor Parry and Cullen Marais celebrated their selection for the Warriors‘ Khaya Majola Week team with centuries that set the platform for Grey High‘s mammoth 211-run win over Kingswood College in their limited-overs clash on the Pollock Oval on Saturday.
Parry, the Grey High captain, trusted his instincts and elected to bat first on his home pitch when the toss went his way.
He then took turns to pummel the Kingswood bowling attack with Marais as they guided Grey High to 340/2 from their 50 overs.
Like their batsmen, the Grey High bowlers were in a no-nonsense mood and bundled out Kingswood for 153 in 31.1 overs.
While the damage from the bowlers was severe, the worst of it came from the bats of Marais and Parry. The pair mounted an astonishing match-winning 327-run second-wicket partnership from 270 balls that took the game away from the visitors.
It was Marais’ second mega-partnership in consecutive outings. Last week, the opener shared a 269-run stand with Joe Stone to lead Grey High to 423/4 and a 230-run win over Woodridge College.
In that contest, he bashed 218 runs from 139 balls. He carried that form into the tie against Kingswood, bludgeoning 19 fours and five sixes in a 134-ball stay that produced 169 runs.
Parry, who joined him in the middle in the second over following Stone’s early dismissal, found gaps with ease as he marched to an unbeaten 155 from 153 deliveries, hitting 18 fours and two sixes.
Their gargantuan partnership ended in the 47th over, when Marais fell to Rogan Goliath‘s bowling. Parry stayed until the end of the 50 overs in the company of Nathan Trytsman, who chipped in with 13 not out.
When Kingswood took to the crease, Matthew Tinley, Trytsman, and Trent Barnado ensured that Kingswood was unable to gain a foothold in the contest by regularly taking wickets.
Tinley was the most successful Grey High bowler, capturing 3/34 in seven overs, while Trytsman and Barnado evenly shared four wickets between them.
David Loudon (34), Rogan Goliath (33), and James Meyer (32) made starts but were unable to convert them into the bigger totals that Kingswood needed.
Summarised Scorecard
Grey High 364/2 (Cullen Marais 169, Connor Parry 155*, Nathan Trystman 13*; Daniel Jakins 1/47, Rogan Goliath 1/51). Kingswood 153/10 (David Loudon 34, Rogan Goliath 33, James Meyer 32; Matthew Tinley 3/34, Nathan Trytsman 2/25, Trent Barnado 2/32). Grey High won by 211 runs.
