A WEEK after he made history with the bat, Bathurst cricket product Blake Dean produced one of the best bowling performances seen in Australian premier first grade competitions this season.
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Dean claimed 7-53 off 24.4 overs on Saturday to help Western District to an outright win over North Canberra Gungahlin in the ACT Premier Cricket competition.
It was the fifth best bowling performance from across the Australia's seven premier league first grade competitions this season and ranks at the top of the ACT's list.
Dean's effort on Saturday marked just the third time since first playing in the ACT Premier Cricket competition 10 season ago he'd take five or more wickets in an innings.
The leg spinner's best spell came against his current club in the season 2014-15 grand final when Dean claimed 7-48 off 22.1 overs for Weston Creek Molonglo.
His other major haul was 6-69 off 34 overs in Queanbeyan's semi-final win over ANU in season 2013-14.
Having spent time with Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong and Weston Creek, Dean is currently in his third season with Western District. The all-rounder also coaches the side.
Taking on North Canberra Gungahlin in their round six, two-day clash, Dean put his side in a commanding position last Saturday after Western won the toss and elected to bat.
He belted 180 off 127 deliveries - an effort which stands as the equal best first grade knock in Western District's history.
Dean opened the batting with fellow Bathurst talent Nic Broes and the 251 runs they put on together ranks as the third highest first wicket partnership in ACT first grade. It was the first time since 1938/39 that an opening partnership had eclipsed the 250-run mark.
Western went on to make 375 and in reply have their rivals all out for 85 with Broes (2-9 off 6.5) amongst the wicket takers.
With time remaining Western enforced the follow on in a bid to claim an outright win and Dean, who had not bowled in the first innings, came up with his stellar performance. He took his seventh victim with the first ball of over 66 to seal victory.
