GMC's Max Johns added a useful 26 in the under-14 grand final. Photo: Rechelle Zammit.
Junior Country Week wrapped up last Thursday, and three Goulburn Murray Cricket sides found their way into grand final clashes.
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After winning all three of its round matches, the under-12 boys squad went into its decider with Bendigo District Cricket Association with confidence.
Batting first, the GMC innings was a story of missed opportunity, as six batters reached double figures but the highest score, from Moama’s Toby Teasdale, was only 25.
BDCA was able to keep GMC off balance with a steady flow of wickets as the local side posted 8-101.
The result looked like it could swing either way during the BDCA innings.
GMC started well, taking two quick wickets to put the opponent in a 2-2 hole.
Top scorer Edward Pertzel (33) found a few willing accomplices, and BDCA seemed like it might cruise home at 3-53 before a mix-up in the middle saw Pertzel run out by Rochester’s Bobby Watson.
Angus Mitchell came to the crease with work to do, and as the tail started to crumble, time was starting to run out for BDCA.
The chasers still trailed by 22 with two overs remaining, but Mitchell turned it on, taking 11 off the penultimate six balls.
Desperate singles and twos ensued in the final over and GMC looked like it may survive as BDCA was still four behind with one delivery to play.
With the game on the line, Mitchell found the rope, levelling the scores and ending the match in a rather unsatisfying tie for both sides.
Echuca’s Jaspa Dedini had best figures for GMC, taking 2-15.
Under-14s
Ted Palmer looks to make his ground. Photo: Rechelle Zammit.
GMC also faced off with BDCA in the under-14 final, but it was the Bendigo association that came out on top.
Batting first, Jed Mannix made 54 from 35 deliveries for BDCA helping his side to 6-130 from its 20 overs.
Rochester’s Maddox Parker led the way for GMC with the ball, taking 2-14.
The GMC chase was moving along nicely when Moama’s Max Johns (26) and Leitchville-Gunbower’s Jax Hare (45) were at the crease, but when their partnership was broken, the run rate slowed and wickets began to tumble.
Three fell in the last over with the game already lost, GMCV declining to 8-107, 23 runs shy of BDCA’s total.
Under-16s
Completing a trio of finals, GMC and BDCA went head-to-head in the under-16 final.
GMC elected to bat first after winning the toss, and a partnership between Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Antonio De Pasquale (39) and Echuca’s Macklan Dalziel (29 not out) had the side travelling nicely for a time.
However, the scoring rate wasn’t stellar, and the pairing was broken late, further complicating matters.
Dalziel and new batter Jack Pollock took 10 from the final over to get GMC to a respectable total of 4-96.
However, BDCA would quickly take the game away from the locals in the second innings, opening pairing Jaxon Kelly and Joshua Robinson working well to set up the win.
The duo put on 86 together, leaving little work to do for the rest of the order, BDCA getting home by nine wickets.
Fire Brigade’s Jack Carver made the lone breakthrough for GMC, taking 1-7.
GMC’s under-17 girls squad battled in Bendigo last week.
Moama's Sadie Laffy slashes at one outside off.
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The girls squad gets fired up after a team huddle.
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Cadence Major slaps it into the onside.
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