Sport
20 February, 2024
Donald Jeffcott remain unbeaten
Donald Jeffcott continued their perfect season with a 45-run victory over BrimKSH at Brim Recreation Reserve.
Dubbed by many as the Grand Final preview, Donald Jeffcott won the toss and elected to bat and they got off to a shaky start.
Excellent bowling from Lachlan McGinniss and Charlie Dean saw Trent Grant, 10, Cooper Anderson, 4, and the best player in the competition, Noah Berry, 15, all fall cheaply to be 3/41.
Their innings was saved by Lachlan Jones, 39, and Dion Hawkes, 26, but BrimKSH bowlers were hitting the right line and lengths and they restricted them to 8/143 after their 40 overs.
Charlie Dean, 3/39 and Isaac McPherson, 3/27 were the pick of the bowlers for BrimKSH.
In reply, BrimKSH lost early wickets and were 4/19 and then 6/45, before Isaac McPherson, 44* and Lachlan McGinniss 35* steadied the ship to try and chase the total down. They made 98 in their 40 overs with Eddie Landwehr taking 3/8 for Donald Jeffcott.
BrimKSH wicket-keeper Matthew Crisp said their plan to Noah Berry worked.
"We completely shut him down and kept him quiet by slowing it right up," Crisp said.
"We bowled slow guys and everyone was bowling tight and well and we managed to not only get him out cheaply, but others as well and it set us up for the chase."
Crisp said that losing on the cusp of finals is not a bad thing as they won't be going into the finals with the favourite tag.
"At the start of the game Isaac said the result means nothing and for everyone to have fun and try and get some form which made everyone relax," Crisp said.
"This performance will give us confidence going into finals and we will be prepared should we meet them again.
"With the bye this week we can have a spell and freshen up and relax and we will be ready to go for the first round of finals."
At Birchip Recreation Reserve, Darcy Reid, 4/12 and Lachy Randall, 3/9 ripped through St Arnaud's batting order to bowl them out for 40 in the 24th over. In reply, Birchip chased the total down with 10 wickets in hand in the 7th over, finshing on 42 with Lachy Randall and William Marks unbeaten on 28 and 14 respectively.
Meanwhile, Marnoo had a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Wycheproof Narraport. James Ison was the top-scorer for Wycheproof Narraport with 44 as they were bowled out for 94 in the 39th over. Darcy Cameron was the pick of Marnoo's bowlers with 4/6 whilst Benjamin Newton was involved in six dismissals.
They chased the total down in the 21st over, finishing at 1/95 with Stuart Lang and Brylie Cameron unbeaten on 32 and 47 respectively.
In the B-Grade, BrimKSH upset Donald Jeffcott, winning by four wickets at Donald Recreation Reserve.
After losing the toss and bowling, BrimKSH bowled them out for 122 in the 26th over. Jack Tellefson was the top-scorer for Donald Jeffcott with 34 whilst Aiden Ciemcioch, 3/13 was the pick of the bowlers for BrimKSH.
In reply, they chased the total down in the 39th over, finishing 6/124. Donald Jeffcott's teenager, Glenn Pearse, filling in for BrimKSH, was unbeaten on 52.
At Watchem, St Marys stormed to a 94-run win. After winning the toss and batting they made 9/148 with Hugh Nixon scoring 56. Sam Milne, 3/17 was the pick of the bowlers for Watchem.
Brodie Dennes, returning from injury, ripped through Watchem taking 5/4 whilst Chad Hartnett finished off the innings with the last two wickets in consecutive balls as they were bowled out for 54.
At Charlton Park, 81 to Giants' Luke Mitchell led the Southern Mallee Giants to 7/150. In reply, Charlton was bowled out for 75 with Matt Bellinger, 3/9, Jack Flavel, 3/12 and Lenny Weir, 2/5, the standouts for the Giants. Elliott Fitzpatrick led the way for Charlton with 24.