Sport
24 January, 2023
Top three skip clear on return
WIMMERA-Mallee Cricket Association made its return to season 2022-23 on Saturday with the top three teams all claiming victory to cement their places in the top four. Brim-Kellalac/Sheep Hills, Jeffcott and Donald all claimed comprehensive wins to...
WIMMERA-Mallee Cricket Association made its return to season 2022-23 on Saturday with the top three teams all claiming victory to cement their places in the top four.
Brim-Kellalac/Sheep Hills, Jeffcott and Donald all claimed comprehensive wins to establish a stranglehold on positions in the run home to finals.
Brim-KSH maintains top billing and holds a one game break on Jeffcott, who in turn, holds a one game advantage over third-placed Donald.
Donald’s win over Marnoo on Saturday saw them skip a game and a half in front of fourth-placed St Arnaud who maintains its fourth placing by half a game over Birchip and Marnoo.
On their home turf, Brim-KSH claimed a commanding win over Birchip when they bowled their opponent out for 100 after inviting them to bat first.
Only Jonty Randall in the middle order and opener Connor McCredden posted double-figure scores as the home team shared its wickets through its bowling line-up.
Randall finished unbeaten on 36, while McCredden made 14 as Mark McPherson finished the best of the bowling attack with 3-20 from eight overs, while Lachie McGinniss, Jeremy Preston and Chris McPherson all claimed two wickets each.
A strong 50-run stand for the first wicket saw Brim-KSH control its run chase when Matt Crisp, 30, and McGinniss, 21, put their team on the road to victory with the bat.
Unbeaten scores of 28 to Preston and 17 to Lachie Hadley safely guides the home team to victory, finishing the day at 2-109 in 25 overs.
Donald produced a solid batting display to post 8-155 in their victory over Marnoo who fell 22 runs short of its required target, bowled out for 133.
Opening batsman Cooper Anderson top scored for Donald with 55, while Koby Westerland, 39, and Kalon Green, 25, made strong contributions.
In reply, Marnoo’s first four batsmen made strong starts but were unable to post the big score to take their team to victory, dismissed in the 38th over.
Openers Jimmy Duxson, 21, and Brylie Cameron, 22, put on 47 for the first wicket before Nick Baird, 20, and Elliott Fitzpatrick, 24, placed their team in a strong position at 3-111 before Donald hit back through Landwehr to claim five wickets for four runs and leave too much to do in the lower order.
Landwehr finished with impressive figures of 3-11 off eight overs to go with his 55 runs.
Jeffcott opening bat Noah Berry returned to his good form prior to the break to post a top score of 53 as his team posted 9-125 in their victory over St Arnaud.
St Arnaud was unable to get hold of the Jeffcott bowling attack who struck early and maintained its advantage with the ball.
Jeffcott opening paceman Daniel Atkins did the damage early and finished with figures of 3-21 off eight overs as St Arnaud was bowled out for 89 with only Harley Durward standing firm with an unbeaten 38.
Saturday’s B Grade matches saw wins to St Marys, Birchip and Charlton, while second-placed St Arnaud won the battle of the top two teams with victory over Jeffcott.
St Marys maintained its half a game lead in fourth place when they proved too strong for Southern Mallee Giants at Anzac Park.
The Giants batted first but struggled to handle an accurate Saints bowling line-up who dismissed its opponent for 86 in 35 overs.
Only two batsmen made double-figure scores with Matt Bellinger and skipper Jack Flavel making 13 runs each as young gun Chad Hartnett found and early line and length to finish with impressive figures of 4-12 off eight overs.
Shannon Bartlett produced identical figures as his young partner as the pair combined to maintain a hold on the Giants batting line-up.
In reply, a 68-run stand for the second wicket saw the Saints safely home as Brodie Dennes and Daniel Westerland took up the attack to secure victory within 16 overs.
The pair dined out with Dennes blasting 47 from 45 balls that included six boundaries and two sixes, while Westerland finished unbeaten on 25 off 29 balls with three boundaries and one six.
St Arnaud’s win over Jeffcott came off the back of a strong bowling display which reduced the ladder leaders to 95 in 34.5 overs.
Mace Bibby claimed impressive figures of 4-21 off 5.5 overs for St Arnaud before skipper Hayden Torney made an unbeaten 29 to guide his team victory, finishing at 6-98 from 22.5 overs.
Brim-KSH struggled in its match against Birchip with the Eagles being dismissed for 50 with Barry Schilling producing the only double-figure score with 30.
In reply, Birchip was reduced to 3-6 early before James Paley guided his team to victory with a top score of 32 as Birchip finished 3-55 from 16 overs.
The final game saw Charlton opener Hugh Sait make an unbeaten 57 as Charlton posted 8-119 before bowling out Watchem for 76.