Goulburn Murray Cricket’s annual short form competition is under way, with the opening round of fixtures played on Thursday.
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Eight of the nine McMahon Shield teams, excluding Tongala, have entered sides in the five-week competition, with three Twenty20 rounds to be played on consecutive Thursdays, followed by a semi-final and final round.
Bamawm-Lockington United v Echuca South
Although they did not repeat the feat in the one-day format days later, Bamawm-Lockington United earned a hard-fought seven-run win over Echuca South in round one.
Batting first, the Lions struggled to find a standout, but everybody chipped in for the 8-133 total.
James Ryan made 30 as the scoring leader, while Kyle Humphrys (22) was the best of the five other players to reach double figures.
Asantha Singappuli was the leader with the ball for the Swans, taking 3-19.
Much like he did in the team’s Saturday fixture, Rathika Rajakumara displayed good touch with the bat, making an unbeaten 50 from 41 deliveries to almost deliver his side the points.
Needing 29 from the final two overs to tie the game, Rajakumara went close to getting the job done, first hitting 12 of 13 runs scored in the penultimate over.
Needing 16, the Swans could only add another nine in the final six balls, the deep fielders doing their job and restricting South to running four twos.
Jeremy Felmingham (2-23) and Thomas Dicker (2-24) notched almost identical figures as their side’s best with the ball.
The close-run nature of the victory has BLU in fourth, the lowest ranked of the opening round winners.
BLU will travel to Gunbower Recreation Reserve this Thursday to battle Leitchville-Gunbower.
Echuca v Moama
On top of the one-day ladder, Moama showed similar class in the T20 format against fierce rival Echuca.
The Mowers won the toss and batted, but Echuca had the hosts on the ropes early at Moama Recreation Reserve.
Dangerous opening duo Russell Stockdale and Anthony McMahon went for six runs each, but Echuca defector Kobyn James and captain Joel Murphy were able to get Moama back on track.
James went after a quick 21, while Murphy hung around for most of the innings, batting with four different partners.
The Mowers skipper hit six fours and a six to reach 53 from 40 to get his side well beyond 100.
Rhys Drennan (26 not out) took over scoring duties in the final overs as Moama posted a total of 6-146 from its 20 overs.
Kale Edwards was Echuca’s bowling leader, taking 2-28, while Charlie Hinks, Ben Henson, Ryan Caldwell and Taj Maddox also took scalps.
Brendan Moyle got Echuca off to a positive start in the run chase, making 31 at the top of the order.
The other end proved to be somewhat of a turnstile and when Moyle fell in the 13th over his side was five down for 76.
Easton Carlile (16) and Kale Edwards (12) slowed the flow of wickets for a time, but couldn’t correct the lagging run rate.
A late flurry of three wickets in five balls put an end to any hopes of a grandstand finish and Echcua fell 33 runs short at 9-113.
All six bowlers used by Moama grabbed at least one wicket, Clay McGregor the standout with three.
Rochester v Kyabram Fire Brigade
Kyabram Fire Brigade successfully translated its strong 50-over form to the shorter format in round one, earning a comfortable seven-wicket win over Rochester at Windridge Oval.
The Flames sent Rochy in after winning the toss and, although the host made a good start, Fire Brigade had the response.
Sean Williams got Rochy moving at the top of the order, making 38 from 26, and when he and Jesse Cuttriss were at the crease the innings was motoring along nicely to 3-73.
When Williams went, Cuttriss struggled for partners, eventually holing out in the final over as Rochy set a moderate 7-122.
The Flames’ Oliver Hughes was the standout with the ball, taking 4-27, including removing each of the top three.
Although Rochester took two early wickets in the Flames’ chase, Bohden Learmonth and Jake Gascoyne paired up for a game-winning 78-run partnership for the third wicket.
Learmonth, who hit three fours and two sixes in his half-century, eventually went for one too many and was dismissed when Fire Brigade trailed by three, the opener making 59 from 42 deliveries.
Gascoyne finished on 40 not out from 34 balls as the Flames got home with seven wickets in hand in 16.4 overs.
Three Rochy bowlers shared the wickets, Myles Wade the most efficient with 1-7 in his single over.
Nondies-Cohuna v Leitchville-Gunbower
Nondies showed none of the fragilities that have plagued them in the McMahon Shield, crushing L-G in the most dominant performance of the round.
Liam (25) and Jason Keath (15) were the only L-G batters to reach double figures as Nondies ripped through the batting order.
It was a slow decline for the visitor at Cohuna Recreation Reserve, L-G finally dismissed with the last ball of the innings, but posting a meagre 67 runs.
Jake Klemm bowled a great shorter format spell, taking 4-9 from four overs, while Liam Smith contributed 3-15.
Klemm was at it again when Nondies padded up, belting an impressive 35 not out to see his side cruise to the target in nine overs, earning a healthy boost to the hosts’ quotient.
In round two, on Thursday, November 27, Echuca visits Kyabram, Moama hosts Rochester, BLU travels to Leitchville-Gunbower, and Echuca South welcomes Nondies-Cohuna.