Around the corner: Matt Harrington started in confident fashion against the Echuca South B-grade attack, but not long after his dismissal Rochester was 5-39.
Season 2022-23 gets no easier for Rochester’s B-grade Goulburn Murray Cricket team this weekend when it faces second-ranked Kyabram Fire Brigade in a one-day match — the second last round before the Christmas break.
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Rochester, after just three non-rain-affected matches, sits 12th on the 14-team ladder and is one of three winless teams.
At Elmore on Saturday the Rochester outfit suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Echuca South (ranked 10th) after captain Grant Watcher won the toss and batted.
Wachter was the first man out, caught attempting to hook a short delivery and soon after opening partner Craig Williams followed him back to the pavilion.
Matt Harrington and Mick Giorgianni were dismissed, leaving Rochester 4-21 in the ninth over.
Ethan Howard’s arrival spelled an improvement in the direction of the game, his 20-run total followed by a partnership of 39 between Brett Young (30) and Rory Harrington (22). They were removed in successive overs and Rochester was all out for 102 after just 33.1 overs.
Echuca South’s run chase yielded only one wicket, to Jigneshsinh Vaghlea, as Echuca South was 1-106 from just 24 overs. Vaghlea took 1-10 from eight overs as Rochester is still hunting for its first win of the season.
• Rochester was forced to forfeit its match with Echuca on Saturday in C-grade.
• Bamawm Lockington United took just 30.4 overs to wrap up its match with Stanhope and retain its top ranking in B-grade GMC competition.
BLU was 4-91 in its run chase, having dismissed Stanhope for 90 in 37.1 overs.
Cameron Laird scored an unbeaten 32 and Greg Pearse 21 in the run chase, after Shannon Bish had destroyed the Stanhope top order with figures of 4-4 from seven overs.
Brett Mundie and Tom Morris took two wickets apiece for BLU.
Top edge: Grant Wachter was out in the third over of the Rochester B-grade innings and his team will be hoping for improvement against highly ranked Kyabram Fire Brigade this weekend.
Swinging away: Craig Williams was caught when a mistimed pull shot ended up being skied to mid-on.
