RAIN could not stop Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen batsman Simon Schmotz from scoring an impressive century as his side chalked up a win against Ulladulla United on Saturday.
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The weather looked like it might be a problem at Hayden Drexel Oval early on, but once they got out there it was Schmotz who did all the damage.
The home side made a shaky start when openers Daniel Gleeson and Matt Tyler were unable to repeat their partnership from the Twenty20 the night before, when Tyler departed the scene for a duck.
The Ex-Servos skipper was then joined by Schmotz in the middle and they started to get the scoreboard ticking over.
They put on 82 for the second wicket before Gleeson was out for 38, with his innings including four fours and a six.
Chris Bramley then joined in on the act, also hitting four fours and a six in his innings of 28.
While Ex-Servos lost a couple of cheap wickets in the middle order, Schmotz kept on going even when he picked up an injury and had to bat on with a runner.
Schmotz finished unbeaten on 115, with 16 fours and a six as Ex-Servos amassed 8/249 from their 42 available overs.
Wes Holmes was the pick of the bowlers for Ulladulla with 3/32, while Harley Bell and Michael Devlin took two wickets each.
Ulladulla’s run chase got off to a poor start when Chris McLean was run out for 1, but Jason Linke and Harley Bell made starts before they were both out for 19 from the bowling of Daniel Gleeson.
Their innings found some momentum when Daniel Beasley was joined in the centre by their skipper Aaron Wester.
They put on 75 for the sixth wicket before Beasley was out for 43, while Wester finished not out on 39.
Ulladulla were only able to bat for 34 overs due to rain and finished at 6/150, which saw Ex-Servos win on run rate.
Gleeson was the best of the bowlers for his side with 3/29, while Shane Phillis bowled well for 2/30.
Over at Bernie Regan, North Nowra-Cambewarra was out to repeat their heroics from their upset win over Bomaderry in the Twenty20 when they hosted Nowra.
After being rolled twice in their outright defeat when they played in the two-dayers earlier this year, the North’s top order may have been a bit wary, but they showed a lot more resistance this time around.
Alex Prudence (20), Liam O’Brien (27) and Graham Davidson (18) each got starts, but were all brought undone by the left arm spinners of Michael Coulter.
The biggest partnership came further down the order when Tristan Woods (33) and Harry Peters (40 not out) scored some valuable runs to help them to a total of 8/163 from their 43 overs.
Michael Coulter was the pick of the bowlers for Nowra with 4/32, while Justin Weller chipped in with 2/23.
Nowra got the perfect start to their run chase with openers Lewis O’Brien (24) and Adam Ison (35) putting on 60 for the first wicket.
There were a couple more starts in their top order and they made it to a fairly comfortable 4/98 before the wickets started to tumble.
Nick McDonald (4/27) and Rob Webeck (2/25) ripped through the middle and lower order to have Nowra in danger of suffering their first defeat.
But tail enders Rhys Fagerlund (2 not out) and Alex Legge (7 not out) managed to keep calm and get them over the line for a dramatic victory, with just two balls to spare.
While there was plenty of excitement in the two completed games, there was no such luck for Berry and Bomaderry and Bay and Basin and Batemans Bay, whose games were abandoned without a ball bowled.