Jono Dean shines in Twenty20 games ahead of his Big Bash League stint

DESTRUCTIVE opener and Bathurst product Jono Dean warmed up perfectly for the Big Bash League with two sensational Twenty20 knocks, sending balls flying to all parts of Canberra’s Stirling Oval.

Playing for Weston Creek Molonglo, Dean hammered 103 from just 58 balls in Saturday morning’s opening game against ANU before backing it up with 88 off 48 deliveries in the afternoon’s encounter with Ginninderra.

It was the Bathurst talent’s first century for his new club on the way to a perfect two-from-two start in the Cricket ACT Konica Cup Twenty20 competition.

The timing couldn’t be better, with Dean getting his eye in before re-joining the Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash League at the start of December.

“The more time I can spend in the middle, the better,” Dean said.

“I’ve still got five weeks, so we all know form can turn around pretty quickly.

“I’m feeling pretty happy at the moment.”

Dean was last month sensationally dropped from the ACT Comets team for its opening game of the Futures League.

But on Saturday he showed he is a force to be reckoned with in the shortest form, belting 14 sixes and 10 boundaries across the two innings.

Weston Creek captain Michael Delaney said it was almost impossible to stop Dean when he gets going.

“He can hit balls to 360 degrees of the ground, you can’t set fields for him,” Delaney said. “When he gets it, there’s no ground big enough for him.

“None of them were close ... he was banging them out of the ground.

“He was definitely on today.”

Weston Creek continued their impressive start to the season.

Dean’s century set up an easy 96-run win against ANU before a 44-run victory over Ginninderra.

“We’re really suited for T20 cricket at the moment, with Blake [Dean], myself, Michael Delaney and Adam Heading,” Dean said.

“There’s a good feeling around the team and the club at the moment.

“We’ve just got to keep moving forward and not take the foot off the gas, and hopefully play some finals cricket.”