Bryn Gaunt.– Steve Brown
JOHNSON Park’s opening batsman, Bryn Gaunt, the sole FTGDCA representative in the Victorian Country team playing in the Australian Country Championships in Mackay, Queensland, performed credibly in a series interrupted by monsoon rains last week.
Due to inclement weather only three out of five rounds were played with New South Wales Country winning the national title from Queensland Country. Gaunt was 12th man in the first round against Queensland Country, before scoring 57 against South Australia Country, which included a record partnership of 144 with Mildura’s star batsman Ben Walters, who made 169. In the match against the strong NSW Country team, Victoria was bowled out for 76 with Gaunt contributing a gutsy 40.
NSW Country replied with 8/138. Ben Walters and Ballarat keeper Heath Pyke were selected in the Australian Country X1 to play the Queensland Bulls. However, the match was abandoned. Victoria finished third in the championships, which will be held again in the Barossa Valley next year.
