Konrad Kurta has been a star for Yarraville Club for some time, but he has never shone brighter than he did on Saturday.
The all-rounder struck a career-best 214 as the Clubbers feasted on Tullamarine’s bowling to finish the day on 4-339, the highest score of the VTCA senior division season so far and the side’s second straight score above 300.
Clubbers coach Justin Baker said it was a knock for the ages.
“I think he eyed off this game as an opportunity to get a big one, so it was great to see him apply himself and get it done,” Baker said.
“He hit the bad balls, rotated the strike well inbetween, it really was a beautiful innings to watch, and I think the ball he went out on was the only chance he gave all day.
“He understands his game really well, and if you stray wide or get your length wrong then he will punish you.”
After winning the toss and batting, the Clubbers were straight on to the back foot when Johnathon Blake departed for one in the early stages.
That brought Kurta to the crease early to join Daniel Janka, with the pair steadying the ship with a 50-run partnership before Janka fell for 15.
From there it was all the Clubbers, with Kurta and skipper Andrew Cullen posting a 251-run stand to take control.
While the Tullamarine bowlers toiled hard, Kurta and Cullen were in a league of their own, with Kurta hitting 25 boundaries and five sixes, and Cullen playing more than a support role before being unluckily run out for 92 soon after the team 300 came up.
Kurta went at nearly a run a ball in his 236-ball innings, which was his highest score and continues the dominance that has seen him post more than 600 runs in two of the past three seasons.
The Clubbers are in the box seat to grab their third straight win of the season.
“I’d back our side in whether we were defending 100 or 340, so I’d be disappointed if we didn’t turn up with the right attitude and get the job done this week,” Baker said.
“From a coaches perspective it’s good to make some big scores, and it’s a real focus for the side this year to set games up with the bat.”
