Sport

Swans’ bowlers defend modest total

By Matthew Kappos

Nov 16, 2025

Although Rathika Rajakumara didn’t fire with the bat, his side got home against Nondies. Photos: Jordan Townrow

It wasn’t a complete performance from Echuca South, but the Swans got the job done against league struggler Nondies-Cohuna in the McMahon Shield on Saturday.

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Winless Nondies would have felt good about restricting South to a chaseable 135 in the first innings, but as has so often been the case for the visitor in recent Goulburn Murray Cricket seasons, the batting wasn’t there to finish off the game.

Nondies was feeling good in the first innings. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

On home turf, Echuca South went in for a bat after winning the toss, but the going was slow early.

After Jayden Rosin saw off the first over, Clayton Watson lasted only three balls before Matthew Robinson had the first wicket, with the Swans still yet to score.

Jayden Rosin slices one away. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The dangerous Asantha Singappuli was next to go for eight, removed by young gun Xavier Wishart, and Rosin (15) joined him in the sheds the following over.

Another key Swans man, Rathika Rajakumara (1), also failed to fire, leaving plenty of work to do for the middle and lower order.

Brendan Lewis (30 from 41) and Shaun Haffenden prevented the innings from becoming a completely lost cause, while the late efforts of Ben Eade (15) and AK Gunathilaka (14 from 10) at nine and 10 surged South to 135 all out from 42.2 overs.

Zeb Ellwood does the work in the field. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Nondies threw seven different players the ball in the innings and six of them cashed in, led by Jamal Sukhon with 3-11.

The visitors’ hopes were high, setting out to hunt a gettable total, but the runs didn’t come when needed.

Xavier Wishart comes steaming in. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The opening duo of Angus Donat and Matt Oddie lasted a combined 10 balls for one run, putting Nondies on the back foot from the off.

Zeb Ellwood was a bright spark at three, notching an innings best 27, but found himself quickly running out of partners.

Broden Wishart makes the grab. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Three of the middle order made no score, making four total in the innings, and Ellwood’s number was eventually called, all but ending the hopes of a Nondies fightback.

The tail put in an admirable shift, the likes of Kyeran Ellery (10) and Matthew Robinson (9) keeping things alive a little longer, but eventually Nondies-Cohuna crumbled to 63 all out after only 22.5 overs.

Asantha Singappuli plays into the offside. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

After leading with the bat, Brendan Lewis was lethal in a spell of less than six overs, tearing the visitor apart with 5-19.

Although a little lucky to get away unscathed after a middling batting effort, Echuca South improves to 4-1 and now sits two games clear of fourth, trailing only the unbeaten Moama and Bamawm-Lockington United.