The teams looked to be evenly matched heading in to the Goulburn Murray Cricket grand final, with Rushworth entering the game on a nine-match winning streak, but Echuca holding a 2-1 advantage in head-to-head competition this campaign.
Rushworth elected to bat first and wasn’t overly troubled by the Echuca attack, with openers Brett Pateman (16) and Peter Raglus putting on 31 for the opening wicket.
Raglus, in the final of the competition named after him, was not fazed by the loss of Pateman (16) or Josh Francis (0) as he put together a composed 43 from 103 deliveries.
Jak McMillan was a willing partner, his blistering 50 retired not out from 42 balls featuring three fours and two sixes.
Jac Barrett (12 not out) and Peter Francis (17 not out) closed out the innings as Rushworth posted a competitive 3-145 from its 36 overs.
No bowler managed more than one wicket in a tough day in the field for Echuca with Jaxon Hogan (1-13), Robert Hogan (1-14) and Jason Gould (1-34) picking up one wicket each.
Echuca looked to be in a good position in its chase thanks to the efforts of openers Xavier Carmichael (23) and Ashley Smith (28), who advanced the score to 56 with their opening partnership.
However, once both openers were back in the pavilion, the innings deteriorated quickly as no other Echuca batsman could manage better than 15 as the side was bowled out for 109.
McMillan (3-15) and Barrett (3-19) led the bowling attack for the champion, with Heath Ogden (2-7), Brett Pateman (1-13) and Regan Hanson (1-21) also taking wickets.
The Game
Rushworth 3-145 (Jak McMillan 50 retired not out, Peter Raglus 43, Jaxon Hogan 1-13) d Echuca 109 (Ashley Smith 28, Xavier Carmichael 23, Jak McMillan 3-15)
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