Ulcigrai ton lifts Lakers, Bond dominates for Northern Districts

Blasting 10 sixes, Ulcigari turned early patience into some late-innings power hitting, the Lakers piling on 5-358 in the one-day match at Oakleigh Park.

Opener Jarryd McMahon was also on track for a century, until partially dislocating his shoulder on 84, as part of a dominant second-wicket partnership. 

“It was pretty good to watch,” brother and captain Mark Ulcigrai said. “They had to build the innings, the wicket was a bit sticky after we were sent in, but they cashed in later on and put the bad balls away.

“Other than being dropped on the fence at about 40, he batted really well and so did Jarryd, he was unlucky, but he just felt his shoulder go and struggled after that.”

While Ulcigrai was the standout with the bat in the South Coast competition, it was Stephen Bond who starred with the ball for Northern Districts in the Illawarra round.

After sending Wests in, Bond picked up 6-18 in 8.1 overs at Figtree Oval, while Jamal Banfield took 4-24, to add to the five wickets he took against Uni last weekend.

Wests managed just 46, before Jonathan Fowles hit 28 off 22 balls to secure a nine-wicket win off just 40 balls. Elsewhere, Corrimal showed they can be an Illawarra finals contender this year, with victory over Wollongong.

Having also been sent in, wicket-keeper Kurtis Trindall was the backbone of the Cougars’ innings, scoring 56, as they were 9-193 after a rain-reduced 46 overs.

The Lighthouse Keepers crashed from 2-106 to be all out for 159 in 39.3 overs, as Xavier McDevitt snared 5-30 from 9.3 overs. As Keira beat University by four wickets, despite coach Mitch Calder’s defiant half-century for the Students, the grand final replay between premiers Dapto and Balgownie at Reed Park was rained off.

In the other South Coast matches, Gerringong’s meeting with Oak Flats was also abandoned, while 74 from Shellharbour’s Anthony Dragovic was not enough to stop The Rail, who chased down 7-228.

The NSW Country Championships are being played on the South Coast, starting on Friday.