Majestic Meades guides Mavericks to vital victory

ALL season Randy Paddle Mavericks have been denying opposition claims that they are a one-man team. Other players have had an impact on the season, but on Saturday at the KGV Justin Meades was utterly dominant as Mavericks sustained their challenge in the KPMG CI Club Championship.

Chasing the 224 set by Clubhouse Optimists, Meades struck a majestic 146 to lead his side to another last over victory - their fourth of the season.

The innings was not without its chances - the Australian was missed three or four times, survived a confident appeal for caught behind when on 33 and was caught on the boundary by Mark Jefferies in the 90s, only for the Optimists skipper to step back and put his foot on the flag.

But he crunched 21 fours and cleared the ropes four times in his 120-ball knock. His century came off 92 balls.

The next highest contribution was Justin Walker's 21, part of a fifth-wicket partnership of 71 that helped Mavericks challenge from positions of four for two and 71 for four.

There was a late squeak, as is traditional for Mavericks, after Meades' dismissal, but Martin Baxter and Mark Culverwell added the runs needed with three balls to spare.

Optimists, put into bat, seemed to play with a bit of a hangover from the week in Scotland. Openers Jefferies and Mark Clapham went cheaply and Andy Biggins and Ami Banerjee were somewhat out of sorts.

Biggins batted 65 balls for his 33 and fell at a crucial period just before drinks, caught by Meades running round from slip, after top-edging a sweep.

Walker was the bowler, his occasional off-spin given a rare outing to some effect as he returned figures of three for 32.

Young Adam Hindle made an impressive and untroubled 31 and the Optimists' tail wagged, with Ian Damarell and Paul Cooper combining well to add runs at the death. Culverwell was the pick of the Mavericks bowlers with two for 25.

The result still leaves both sides in with a chance of making the semi-finals. Mavericks face Old Victorians next week, needing to beat the side assured of topping the table to get through.

If Mavericks lose, Optimists can still qualify if they beat Romerils.