UNITED batsman Josh Ferris scored his second century of the season and piloted United to a win over Wingham at Cedar Party Reserve on Saturday.
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The victory means United will meet Old Bar for the title of one-day champs at Johnny Martin Oval on Sunday.
Wingham just did not set United a big enough total given the extreme heat and lightning outfield at Cedar Party Reserve.
After Brad Staff elected to bat first Jye Kleindeinst (17) and Wayne Smoothy put on 39 in nine overs. Staff and Smoothy carried the tally to 112 when Smoothy was out for 39. Staff fell shortly after for 56 (1x6,6x4) before Ryan Morris and Adam Carney contributed 31 and 32 respectively to bring up 200.
The innings ended on six for 201 from the allotted 40 overs, a score considered 30 runs shy of par.
Tom Burley (1/34) and Dean Mills (1/31) were the best of the United bowlers on a flat track.
Whereas the Wingham batsmen failed to turn a start into a bigger number, Ferris put aside the early loss of opening partner Laurie Weeks (5) to join with Matt Collier in adding 161 for the second wicket.
Collier gave one chance but otherwise looked in control before being caught behind off Ryan Williams for 58 with the game well in hand. Ferris hit 16 boundaries in reaching 105 not out, most of them on the off side or from strong drives, his trade mark scoring areas.
Steve 'Harmy' Allwood was rewarded with the late wicket of United skipper Ricky Campbell for 13 to go with that of Weeks to give him the tidy figures of 2-25 from (7). After feeling off color early on Williams came back strongly to claim 1 for 32 whilst Staff bowled better than his 0-42 from (8). The Wingham bowlers also leaked 11 wides and will need to address this issue with the Twenty20 games beginning this weekend.