By David Nagel
Hoisting a bat high into the afternoon sky to celebrate a century is one of the great joys of cricket and three players have enjoyed that addictive sensation on multiple occasions in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) this season.
Devon Meadows star Lucas Ligt and Tooradin gun Josh Lownds both made centuries on the weekend, joining Jass Dhaliwal from Cranbourne Meadows in the most exclusive club of the season.
Dhaliwal and Ligt were locked on two centuries each heading into round 10, but the Panthers star made light work of the Vikings attack in District cricket on Saturday – smashing 111 not out – to become the first player to reach three triple-figure scores.
Ligt had previous scores of 148 and 119 not out, with the classy left-hander in ominous form as the Panthers eye off the District premiership.
Lownds, meanwhile, was also at his brilliant best on Saturday, with the classy left-hander riding roughshod over Carlisle Park.
Lownds made 104 against the Vikings, adding a second ton to his season CV after belting Kooweerup to all parts in early December last year.
Dhaliwal has also made two tons, making an even 100 in District and 106 in B Grade.
A total of 30 players have made centuries in the CCCA this season, with Kooweerup D Grade skipper Brent Wilson going closest to a double-century with 197 not out.
The Demons also have the most unique twist on the list, with John and Paul Bright the only brothers to have scored a century each this season.
Devon Meadows leads the way with five individual players having chalked up three figures.
Ligt is joined by Will Halton (105*), Steve Robinson (104*), Nathan Kleinig (103*) and Mark Hosking (102*) as Panthers to have racked up the milestone.
Clyde and Kooweerup have had four players each make tons, with Emerald and Tooradin next best with three.
Carlisle Park, Cranbourne Meadows, Pakenham and Upper Beaconsfield have had two players raise their bats, with Gembrook, Officer and Merinda Park with one.
Only four clubs have failed to reach three figures, with Cardinia, Lang Lang, NNG/Maryknoll and Pakenham Upper Toomuc still searching for their first batting hero for the season.
Here’s the list of century makers in the CCCA after round 10:
3 CENTURIES
Lucas Ligt Devon Meadows 148, 119*, 111*
2 CENTURIES
Jass Dhaliwal Cranbourne Meadows 106, 100
Josh Lownds Tooradin 104, 100
1 CENTURY
Brent Wilson Kooweerup 197*
Luke McMaster Kooweerup 193
Chris Smith Pakenham 144
John Bright Kooweerup 144
Ian Crosher Emerald 136*
Joshua Spittal Clyde 134*
Dylan Sutton Tooradin 133
Shalika Karunanayake Carlisle Park 126
Paul Connolly Upper Beaconsfield 125*
Darcy Freeman Tooradin 115
Paul Bright Kooweerup 110*
Imesh Jayasekara Upper Beaconsfield 108
Beau Hawkins Clyde 107
Jason Hameeteman Clyde 106
William Halton Devon Meadows 105*
Steven Robinson Devon Meadows 104*
Jerome Willenberg Clyde 103*
Nathan Kleinig Devon Meadows 103*
Noah Van Haren Emerald 103*
Dean McPherson Gembrook 102*
Manu Goraya Cranbourne Meadows 102*
Mark Hosking Devon Meadows 102*
Owen Thorne Emerald 102*
Duke Miller Carlisle Park 101*
Steve Pursell Officer 101
Glen Ward Merinda Park 100*
Greg Hogben Pakenham 100*
