Weather scuppered an emphatic Tallarook victory at Pyalong Recreation Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Joshua Rudge led Tallarook, scoring a century and taking his side to an impressive total in the one-day match against Pyalong.
But rain interrupted play when the visitors got the ball in hand.
Tallarook was given the difficult task of bowling out Pylong in limited overs and the home side dug in.
The match ended in a draw despite Tallarook’s best efforts.
Tallarook captain Lachlan Watts reflected on a performance that would have almost certainly provided a win without the weather.
“We put a big total on the board, which was always going to be difficult to chase down,” Watts said.
“Josh Rudge was phenomenal. It’s his first A-grade ton and the first of many ahead, we hope.
“He played a really mature innings, patient when he needed to be but also getting after the bad balls.
“Leigh (Irving) provided some great support and it was great to have Dale Short back and hitting a few around at the end.
“Unfortunately, the rain shortened Pyalong’s innings and we couldn’t run through them.
“They put up the wall and full credit to them for batting out the overs left after the rain.
“We’re looking forward to next week and hopefully finishing on a high before the break.”
Tallarook did not get off to a start that reflected its final score.
Andrew Dundon was dismissed for a duck with only 13 on the board.
His opening partners, Rudge and Watts, quickly steadied the ship and runs flowed freely.
Watts fell just short of a half-century, but his efforts with the bat had Tallarook on their way to a decent score.
Tallarook wobbled as Thomas Archibald could only contribute one run before being dismissed, but Leigh Irving came in and followed his captain’s lead.
Irving’s steady innings allowed Rudge to continue his impressive play and he brought up his first A-grade century.
The high-scorer was dismissed shortly after with a total of 109, including nine fours and three sixes.
Irving was Tallarook’s second-highest scorer and made a half-century before being bowled.
Tallarook finished with 5-248.
Matthew Pratt was the best of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Mitchell Witting took two.
The rain interrupted the Pyalong innings and, despite Tallarook dismissing both openers for ducks, the rest of the order was a brick wall in defence.
Sean Walsh came in at first drop and was unbreachable. The same went for Daniel Snowden, Mitchell Witting and captain Jamie Pryor.
Pyalong played the role of villain well and got through 39 overs with only 54 runs on the board, ruining Tallarook’s masterful batting performance.
The game ended in a draw, a result that Tallarook will feel cheated by, while Pyalong will be celebrating like it had recorded a win.
Around the grounds, Seymour District Cricket Association league-leader Eastern Hill set a total of 153 at Yea Recreation Reserve and the home outfit could not match it.
Yea was bowled for 82 runs.
It was a similar story at Avenel Recreation Reserve, where Alexandra was bowled out for 172, but the home side fell short.
Avenel was all out for 79 runs.
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