NORTHERN Raiders skipper Joe McKinnon says Dallas Armistead's 171-run masterclass is "one of the best knocks I've seen for a long time".
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The veteran batsman was in fine form in Saturday's division two season-opener against North Warrnambool Eels, crunching the mammoth total from 143 deliveries.
He was aided by another veteran in Greg Bull (74 from 78 balls) and Chetan Sharma (62 from 54 balls) en route to the total. The Purnim-based club finished on 3-336 from just 45 overs.
McKinnon hailed Armistead's class and said he was contributing effectively for the team as an opener.
"He hit them pretty sweet. Early he didn't give much, he was just pushing them around and later in the innings he started hitting them around," he said.
He hits the ball nice and just makes scoring runs look pretty easy. He's just got that wise head and knows when to play the ball.
- Joe McKinnon on Dallas Armistead
"He really crunched them around which was pretty impressive.
"He's sort of cemented his spot as an opening batsman in our side and he's really sets us up throughout the day. He hits the ball nice and just makes scoring runs look pretty easy. He's just got that wise head and knows when to play the ball.
"He's a real asset for us."
McKinnon said the Raiders were pleased with their start and were confident of a strong season.
"We lost a few but we've also picked up a few," he said.
"I think we're probably a more rounded side this season with our bowling and fielding. We're probably lacking a bit of variation with the ball but I think we're setting ourselves up to hopefully have a good go at (a premiership) again."
Vale Ken
A cricketer etched in Warrnambool and District Cricket Association history for a 360-run partnership with his brother has been remembered as "a very good man".
Former Nestles and Wesley batsman Ken Isles passed away in Warrnambool on November 6, aged 93.
Ian 'Lefty' Wright debuted for the Factory in 1951 and called the experienced Isles a teammate.
He said Isles, who was also a handy footballer for West End, was a "brilliant batsman".
"When I started at Nestles he was the leading cricketer for a very long time and then he transferred to Wesley," Wright said.
"He was an aggressive bat and was able to make making runs look easy.
"He was a good sportsman and a fine man."
Isles is part of association folklore after making a 360-run stand with brother Stuart against St Joseph's in 1950.
He made 219 and his brother finished unbeaten on 170.
Isles recalled the feat when speaking to The Standard in 2014.
"I was dropped on 136 and it went for six. They were big boundaries," he said in the interview.
"If we had played on the ground they play on today, we would've got to 500."
Isles, who ran Isles General Store, also scored a double century two days later in a one-day match against Dennington on a public holiday.
WDCA team of week
Cam Williams (Russells Creek) 102; Ben Threlfall (West Warrnambool) 66; Josh Campbell (Russells Creek) 43; Hank Schlaghecke (North Warrnambool Eels) 5-18 and 28 not out; Telge Peiris (Dennington) 56; Geoffg Williams (Nestles) 46; Zavier Mungean (Wesley-Yambuk) 45; Jason Mungean (Wesley-Yambuk) 42; Joe Higgins (Wesley-Yambuk) 4-24; Max Hannah (Nestles) 3-18; Ned Mabon (Port Fairy) 3-18; Bailey Jenkinson (North Warrnambool Eels) 3-28.
SWC team of week
Grant Cameron (Woorndoo) 71; Johno Benallack (Cobden) 61; Tim Fitzgerald (Bookaar) 58; Isaac Wareham (Mortlake) 58; Tom Place (Pomborneit) 54; Simon Harkness (Heytesbury Rebels) 43; Tyson Hay (Terang) 41; Chris Vogels (Heytesbury Rebels) 4-15; Sam Munro (Terang) 4-22; Isaac Fowler (Woorndoo) 4-35; Charlie Lucas (Bookaar) 3-14; Louis Darcy (Bookaar) 3-14;
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