By LIAM TWOMEY
AARON Maynard put on one heck of a show at the Frank Kirk Oval on Saturday.
In blistering heat, the gun Altona batsman made a spectacular 111 and guided the A’s to 217 after day one of their clash with Yarraville.
The knock is the second century of the season for Maynard and Altona president Neil Burns was full of praise for his team’s star batsman.
“In 39 degree heat, Aaron Maynard coming in at number three and batting almost all day was sensational,” Burns said.
“He is the anchor for the side and everyone bats around him. He hits the singles when they are required and he hits the boundaries when they are required.
“Aaron is one of our best trainers and one of our fittest blokes. He has taken his entire game to a whole new level and he is the professional of our club.
“He really has that mental toughness and fitness to be able to bat all day.”
After his side won and toss and chose to bat first, Maynard was in the thick of the action from the word go with Altona in early trouble at 1/0.
Despite the hot conditions, Maynard set himself for a long inning and remained at the crease until the A’s reached 214.
When play resumes this weekend, Yarraville will need to make 218 if it is to secure its third win of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
For the currently fifth-placed Altona, a win would go a long way to guaranteeing its spot in the finals.
“For us, with Andrew McCammond not playing, our bowlers need to do exactly what we have been trying to all year,” Burns said.
“We have done it sporadically throughout the season, which is bowl outside the off stump, line and length. If we give some of their good players a sniff, on our track and on our ground 220 is a very gettable score. We need to be bowling line and length and just continue to be outside that off stump.”
