Tons of fun for James and Charles

       Tons of fun for James and Charles

Moonee Valley players James Harris and Charles Bibby brought up their maiden Valley tons on the same day and on adjoining grounds on November 25.
Charles, who has come through Moonee Valley's junior ranks and is playing Firsts and Seconds cricket, anchored the innings for the Second Eleven on the Ormond Park turf pitch, while James was having a hit in the Fifths on the hard wicket.
Celebrating their maiden Moonee Valley centuries - Charles Bibby (left) and James Harris.
Both were interrupted innings - Charles finished Day 1 on 78 not out and had to sweat through a week before coming back in and posting 118.
James had a different interruption. He opened the batting, and got to 141 before top-edging a hook shot into his forehead and needing to come off for treatment.
A couple of wickets fell and he came back in as part of the last pair at the crease - and smacked a four and a six to pass the 150 mark and carry his bat for 153 not out.
It was a strange innings for the Fifths - nine players made single-figure scores, and only James and debutant batsman Damien Clarke (80) made substantial contributions on the way to our Day 1 score of 289 - all out on the second ball of the last over of the day.
James has hit a couple of tons back home in Tasmania, but this was his first three-figure haul in the Valley colors.
Charles' dig got Moonee Valley to 243, backed by a 48 from emerging batsman Matthew Esmore. It proved a bridge too far for Sunshine. We cleaned them up for 172 with Matthew Esmore and Luke Brock each claiming four wickets.
Charles, Matthew and Luke are all  young players who came through the Moonee Valley junior ranks. They've all played First Eleven cricket, so our Club has got a healthy future with the young talent pushing up hard.