The Hoppers master blaster took his season runs tally to 452 after smashing 177 in ladder leader North Albury’s eight-wicket thrashing of East Albury at Bunton Park on Saturday.

The loss has dropped the Crows from second to third.

Chasing a very respectable 263, Farrell was almost untouchable, smashing a whopping 28 boundaries on his way to his second ton of the season.

He combined with fellow opener Rod Barton (36) for a 110-run partnership for the first wicket and put on a 137-run third-wicket partnership with Brendan Simmons (46).

North Albury finished its 80 overs 6-343(dec), with skipper Greg Daniel unbeaten on 40 at stumps.

Daniel, who is part of the Cricket Albury-Wodonga squad for Melbourne Country Week, said his side would now turn its attention to clashes against Wodonga (away) and Lavington (home).

“The next two games are really big games,” he said.

“If we play somewhere near our best I think we can get the points in both games.”

Daniel said Farrell, who is averaging 75.33 and scored 176 in the win against Albury at Bilson Oval in round 1, was unstoppable against an attack that included three of the competition’s top 10 bowlers in Brad Neyland (19 wickets), Grant Lewis (17) and Cameron White (14).

“He was sensational,” Daniel said.

“He played straight and kept his head down and batted and batted.

“He played really correct and didn’t give a chance.

“We knew if we batted sensibly that the score wasn’t going to be enough.

“Two hundred and fifty has been a good score but on such a good wicket and with such a fast outfield that we knew if we batted the time out we’d win.”

At Xavier Oval, grand final hero Luke Restall scored his second ton of the season to lead St Patrick’s to a two-wicket win against New City.

Restall, coming in at first drop, smashed 118 to take his season average to 66.17 as the home side finished its 80 overs 9-254 in reply to New City’s 216.

Patties skipper Heath Naughton, who didn’t bat because of a back injury, said Restall was capable of plenty more runs this season.

“He batted very well,” Naughton said.

“He should bat well at Xavier.

“Conditions suit the batsmen and a bloke like him should look to make a 100 there every time.

“He put a put a lot of value on his wicket and batted very well.”