Crunch: Aidan Young made a superb 78 against Echuca South. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
A superb team performance from Echuca has shown the rest of the competition why it is still the team to beat in the Goulburn Murray Cricket McMahon Shield, following an authoritative win over Echuca South at the weekend.
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Sent in to bat at Echuca South Recreation Reserve, the reigning premier made a handy start to the innings before South’s danger man Asantha Singappuli (1-43) struck to remove Brendan Moyle for 12.
Matthew Hinks and Curtis Townrow kept Echuca ticking along, with Townrow at his destructive best, smashing 66 off 43 deliveries before he and Hinks were sent packing by Swans captain Ben Eade (2-32), reducing Echuca to 3-102.
Kobyn James was joined at the crease by Aidan Young and, in a match-defining partnership, piled on 135 runs together, tormenting the home side’s bowling attack as they blasted 16 boundaries between them.
It was Akila Senanayake who finally broke through for Echuca South, first claiming the wicket of James for a well-made 56, before snaring the scalp of Young, who made a scintillating 78 from 63 balls, shortly after.
After being put on the back foot for the majority of the innings, Echuca South recovered well at the death, claiming five wickets for 30 runs in the dying stages to see Echuca to a total of 8-276 off its 45 overs.
Cut away: Kobyn James was pivotal in Echuca’s win, combining with Aidan Young for a 135-run partnership.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Senanayake was particularly impressive with the ball, ending with figures of 4-17, while Rathika Rajakumara snared one late to finish with 1-63.
Echuca South couldn’t muster a similar response, with their star batsmen Asantha Singappuli and Rathika Rajakumara unable to build a substantial partnership. The home side finished on 9-132, losing by a massive 144 runs.
Send it down: Echuca South captain Ben Eade bowls a delivery.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Elsewhere, Bamawm-Lockington United hit the road to take on Cooma and after losing the toss, BLU got off to a perfect start with Jeremy Felmingham removing Cooma opener Robert Trewin for a duck.
Captain Jake Kelly top-scored for Cooma with 36, but BLU’s Declan Pearse and Josh Cairns restricted Cooma to 139.
Full of pace: Shanaka Silva attempts to break the partnership of Kobyn James and Aidan Young.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
BLU chased down the target comfortably, powered by Werner Brand’s swashbuckling 55 from 42 deliveries, eventually winning by six wickets.
Meanwhile, Moama hosted Rochester and batted first.
The home side posted an imposing total of 6-239, anchored by a superb innings from Fraser Buchanan who chalked up a magnificent 118-run knock.
Rochester’s chase never really got going, with Michael Hill claiming his second straight haul of four wickets to help Moama dismiss Rochester for 146, sealing an emphatic 93-run win.
Nondies-Cohuna took on Tongala and Welsh import Archie Sussex produced a match-winning performance, scoring 70 runs and taking two wickets.
Rory Knight was the standout of the Tongala bowlers, collecting 4-27 from his six overs.
Despite Tongala’s efforts, Nondies-Cohuna won by 81 runs.
Lastly, Kyabram Fire Brigade was too strong for Leitchville-Gunbower.
The Flames won the toss and elected to bat, with opener Paul Newman setting the tone with an explosive 66 runs from 63 deliveries, helping Kyabram Fire Brigade post a competitive total of 169.
In response, Leitchville-Gunbower got off to a shaky start, losing its first four wickets for 36 runs.
Tyler Jones and Jye Keath tried to rebuild the innings with a 66-run stand, but it was not enough to avoid a 38-run loss.
