Olivia Davy was the mainstay for Moama at the crease as it chased down Nathalia’s small total with six wickets to spare. Photos: Matthew Kappos.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The return of the Goulburn Murray Cricket Women’s competition brought about all sorts, with two vastly different wins going to local sides Moama and Echuca.
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The Mowers advanced to the top of the ladder with a dominant showing over Nathalia, particularly when it came to the bowling contingent.
After Nathalia won the toss and opted to bat, Jordan Dalziel gave Moama a dream start, removing opener Cody Power with the first ball of the match and striking again just two balls later to end Ella Johns’ afternoon early.
Ariel Howe looks to hit square.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
The visitor at Moama Recreation Reserve eventually righted the ship at three down, Courtney Cunnigham stabilising things with a reserved 11 from 29 deliveries.
Nathalia looked set up to build a decent score from 3-21, but an almighty batting collapse saw the side lose 7-8 to be bowled out for just 29.
Abby Favaro fires one down for Nathalia.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Five of the bottom six, and eight batters total, were dismissed without score.
The bowling card read expectedly well for Moama, led by Sadie Laffy, who bowled a tidy 3-1 from two overs.
Sophie Millar is bowled.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
After her blistering start to the innings, Dalziel would give up only a single run from three overs, posting 2-1, while captain Delaney Laffy was the other multiple wicket-taker, logging 2-7.
In what proved to be a good outing for both sets of bowlers, Moama didn’t have things all its way during the meagre chase.
Cody Power celebrates one of her two wickets.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Losing an early 3-8 within the first four overs made the impossible seem only improbable for Nathalia, but a steadying knock from Olivia Davy would secure the points for the Mowers.
Davy notched 17 unbeaten as Moama scored the win by six wickets.
Lylah Newman tries to hook one around the corner.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Cody Power led the Nathalia bowling effort with 2-7.
The win puts Moama on top of the ladder after Rochester was defeated by Bamawm-Lockington United.
Ella Johns bowls for Nathalia.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Echuca vs Katamatite
It was a much nervier encounter at Katamatite Recreation Reserve, Echuca finding the winning runs with a single wicket in hand.
Echuca sent the home side in after winning the toss, the Katamatite innings held together by Matilda Iddles and Sienna Hutchinson.
Both batters hit the balls limit and retired, but their departure set about a minor slide for their side.
Amy Bye (15) was good in the middle order, but Katamatite would lose 5-15 to be in trouble at 7-80.
Iddles (22 not out) and Hutchinson (15 not out) would be recalled for a final stand, the pair seeing out the innings, their side posting 9-105 from its 35 overs.
Gilllian Noelker (3-24) was Echuca’s best with the ball and would continue to hold her side together with a leading knock at the top of the batting innings.
An unbeaten 30 from 35 saw her set the platform for the chase, and a couple of key contributions from Leanne Carty (15) and Sophie Mckee (11) got Echuca most of the way home.
Wickets started to run thin and Noelker would be needed again for the final eight balls, after her side fell to 9-100.
In the do-or-die situation, Noelker hit the winning runs to see Echuca to the total in the 30th over.
Hayley Hendrie’s 3-9 helped keep Katamatite in the game, while Christina Roberts took 2-10.
Echuca moves into the top four with the win, also holding a game in hand over all sides above it.
Rochester vs BLU
Hosting BLU at Windrige Oval, Rochester won the toss and elected to put runs on the board early, which ended up being a good decision as openers Hayley Broucek and Taya Munro set a solid platform.
The pair put on 14 for the loss of the first wicket as Munro was cleaned up by Emma Beal (10) in the third over.
Cadence Major’s (1) tenure in the middle was short-lived, as she was trapped lbw by Amy Fitzgerald after three balls.
Fitzgerald was on fire with the ball, ripping through Rochester’s middle order and claiming stunning figures of 5-15 from five overs.
Alyssa Braithwaite was the only batter to go along with Broucek, notching a defiant six from 19 balls.
Broucek ended up with smashing 21 off 38 balls, her wicket at the hands of Emma Beal brought an end to the innings, Rochy rolled for 68 in a tick under 17 overs.
Despite the Lions losing five wickets in their chase, the visitor took under 12 overs to reach the target, thanks in large part to opener Ruby Brentnall’s unbeaten knock of 24.
BLU captain Bree Styles (5) was the next best with the bat, while Jess Jepsen was there at the end, with Brentnall finishing on two not out.
Both Broucek and Braithwaite finished with a pair of wickets each for Rochester.
Rochester has now lost top spot on the league table, Moama holding a big quotient lead with an identical 6-2 record.
Next Sunday’s matches see Echuca host Nathalia in Tongala, Moama welcome Cooma and Rochester visit Katamatite, while BLU has the bye.
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