New Milton cricketer Tom Arnold is celebrating his first century on Australian soil.
Playing for the Royal Park Brunswick club in Melbourne , where he is spending the winter, the 22-year old former Southampton Solent University opener hit an unbeaten 104 in his side’s crushing defeat of Sunshine Heights in the Victorian Turf League.
He made only 17 in Brunswick’s first innings score of 168 but went to town with the bat after Sunshine Heights had been skittled for 83, former Langley Manor seamer Simon Peters bagging 2-20.
Arnold, who made six Minor Counties appearances for Dorset last summer, then weighed in with 104 not out as Brunswick piled up 172 without loss in their second innings.
“I was quietly confident there was a big one around the corner,” said Arnold .
“I’ve been in decent nick, but was out four times in the 40s so didn’t manage to turn decent starts into a big score.”
Arnold’s good form - he has scored over 400 runs in Melbourne cricket now - has helped Royal Park into second place in the log – a good position from which to push for a place in next month’s Grand Finals.
Another New Forest based cricketer, Woodgreen's Laurence Harding is also having a fine season with the Royal Park Brunswick club.
The Fordingbridge based batsman, who graduated from Bath University last summer, also made a maiden century last weekend, scoring 115 against East Kellor. He had made 51, 48 and 36 in his previous three innings since Christmas.
Playing for the Royal Park Brunswick club in Melbourne , where he is spending the winter, the 22-year old former Southampton Solent University opener hit an unbeaten 104 in his side’s crushing defeat of Sunshine Heights in the Victorian Turf League.
He made only 17 in Brunswick’s first innings score of 168 but went to town with the bat after Sunshine Heights had been skittled for 83, former Langley Manor seamer Simon Peters bagging 2-20.
Arnold, who made six Minor Counties appearances for Dorset last summer, then weighed in with 104 not out as Brunswick piled up 172 without loss in their second innings.
“I was quietly confident there was a big one around the corner,” said Arnold .
“I’ve been in decent nick, but was out four times in the 40s so didn’t manage to turn decent starts into a big score.”
Arnold’s good form - he has scored over 400 runs in Melbourne cricket now - has helped Royal Park into second place in the log – a good position from which to push for a place in next month’s Grand Finals.
Another New Forest based cricketer, Woodgreen's Laurence Harding is also having a fine season with the Royal Park Brunswick club.
The Fordingbridge based batsman, who graduated from Bath University last summer, also made a maiden century last weekend, scoring 115 against East Kellor. He had made 51, 48 and 36 in his previous three innings since Christmas.
