Sport

Lions’ chase declawed

By Matthew Kappos

Feb 2, 2026

Bamawm-Lockington United will need to fight for its finals future over the remaining fortnight after falling by 146 runs to Echuca at Tongala Recreation Reserve.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Meanwhile, Echuca is rounding into form at the right time, stringing together a third consecutive win and surging into the top two in the Goulburn Murray Cricket Women’s competition.

Echuca was feeling good after its opening wicket. Photos: Matthew Kappos

The Lions won the toss and elected to send the opposition in, but Echuca got off to a flyer after composed batting from the top order.

Preserving wickets was the name of the game for openers Gillian Noelker (25) and Kate Carlile (9) and the pair retired unbeaten after hitting the 35-ball limit.

Amy Fitzgerald checks if there’s a run in it. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Sophie Good and Jessica Cox took up the cause and got the total beyond 100, a ballooning extra count providing the assist as Echuca reached 110 before Good was the first batter to be dismissed, making 12.

Cox was in an attacking mood and made a quick 36 from 28 before also retiring, while down the order Sharon Henson also timed out making 30 before retirement.

Zoe Cook took three wickets for Echuca. Photo by Matthew Kappos

All up, while 10 Echuca batters took their shot in the middle, only four wickets fell and the host posted 199 in its 35 overs, a daunting total for the Lions to run down.

What wickets were on offer were shared among the BLU attack, Emma Beal, Amy Fitzerald and Ruby Brentall taking one each.

Bree Styles checks her mark. Photo by Matthew Kappos

The run chase never found its legs, as wickets tumbled early and often.

Liz Chapman provided some resistance at the top, making an unbeaten 14 before retiring, but a devastating period saw the Lions lose 3-2, most of their middle order, and it was only a matter of time from there.