Sport
18 December, 2023
Donald Jeffcott head into break unbeaten
Donald Jeffcott head into the Christmas break unbeaten in the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association following a 163 run win over St Marys at Donald Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Donald won the toss and elected to bat and Brodie Dennes troubled them with a great opening spell trapping both openers for LBW to have them 2/23.
Brodie Dennes then caught the in-form Noah Berry off Nicholas Germano's bowling for 37 and St Marys could sniff an opening, having them in trouble at 3/70.
Lachlan Jones and Daniel Atkins had other ideas and formed a 163 run partnership before Atkins fell for 80 late in the innings. Donald Jeffcott finished at 4/266 off their 40 overs with Jones unbeaten on 96 and Trent Grant on 13. Brodie Dennes was the pick of the bowlers with 2/62 off eight overs.
In reply, St Marys couldn't get any momentum with tight bowling from the home side making batting difficult.
Paul Rowe led their batting with 24 whilst Bailey Watts, 17, and Nicholas Germano, 16, also scored in double figures as they were bowled out for 103 in the 31st over.
St Marys captain Colby Schmidt said it was good to see Brodie back with confidence.
"He bowled well at the start of the day, but so did Nic Toscano and Chad Hartnett," he said.
"Brodie has done well. He went to B-Grade to find form and he did everything we asked of him. He is a wicket taker and he was down on confidence so hopefully he has turned the corner with this match."
St Marys go into the break with one win for the season and Schmidt said it has been a great return to the top division because despite not winning, they are improving each week.
"We are improving on batting, fielding and bowling. It was always going to be hard going up in grade but everyone is showing improvement," he said.
"At the start of the season we would lose 3-4 wickets in 18 balls or so and the last four weeks we have really improved and haven't had those issues.
"We will keep improving and keep going forward and it's baby steps. The main thing is we are gaining experience and we can only get better from here."
Schmidt also praised 13-year-old Chad Hartnett who is improving every week.
"For him to be able to bowl eight overs in A-Grade and not go for many runs at his age, it is very good to see," he said.
"He has a bright future ahead of him and we can't wait to see how he develops."
In the other match, Marnoo moved a game clear in third place of St Arnaud, proving too good for them with a seven wicket victory at Marnoo Recreation Reserve.
Marnoo won the toss and elected to bowl and they bowled St Arnaud out for 148 in 36 overs. Jacob Patching top scored with 46 with Colin Crooks chipping in with 31. Jack Mcallister was brilliant with the ball for the home side finishing with 4/21.
In B Grade, Donald Jeffcott remain one game clear at the top of the ladder with a nine wicket victory over St Marys at Anzac Park.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, tight bowling from Jett Adams and Colby Anderson made it hard to score. William Batson put up resistance at the top of the order with 16 but no one else could get a start.
Nathan Priest top scored at seven with 34 runs as they were bowled out for 84 in 23 overs. Joseph Praveen finished with figures of 3/7 off 5 overs.
Donald Jeffcott chased the total down in 88 overs only losing one wicket. Jack Tellefson and Will Noble both finished not out on 41 and 22 runs respectively. Aiden Keys was the best bowler for St Marys with 1/24 off eight overs.
At Hopetoun Recreation Reserve, Southern Mallee Giants defeated Brim-KSH by seven wickets.
Brim-KSH won the toss and elected to bat and Sandon Schultz and Dale Stephan were the only ones to score in double figures with 16 and 13 respectively as they were bowled out for 65. Clinton Castleman, 2/10, and Jaiden Cook, 2/13, were the best bowlers for the Giants.
The Giants chased the total down in the 24th over, losing three wickets. Zachary Robins top scored with 25. Sandon Schultz, 2/15, and Dale Stephan, 1/13, were the pick of the bowlers for Brim-KSH.
At Birchip Recreation Reserve, Birchip recorded a 35 run win over Watchem. After winning the toss and batting, Hudson McCredden hit 53 in their total of 154. Seamus Lowry was the pick of the bowlers with 3/41.
In reply, Austin Dean, 25, and Daniel Slater, 35, gave Watchem hope until both fell in quick succession. Joel Emonson then came on with a blistering spell taking five wickets to help bowl them out for 119 in the 40th over. At one stage Emonson was on.a hat-trick and he finished with figures of 5/14.