Winning the toss and batting, BLU’s 143 runs were always going to be hard to defend against the strong Echuca batting line-up in the clash at the Moama recreation reserve.
And that’s how it panned out.
With opening batsman Curtis Townrow leading the way with a top score of 49 off 73 balls, with six boundaries and a six, supported by Kobyn James (30 not out) and Taylor Beard (28 not out), Echuca claimed victory in just 41 overs to go one better than last year.
BLU struggled for runs against the Echuca attack and used up 79.2 overs of its 80 overs in posting its final score.
Sandun Ranathunga continued his good season to top score for BLU with 34, opener Cody Thomson got 23 and a fighting 43-run last-wicket stand between Amila Gunathilaka (29) and young Declan Pearse (13 not out) produced 43 timely runs, but it was nowhere near enough.
B Grade (Bill Williams Shield)
Kyabram Fire Brigade went down in a pulsating finish to Bamawm-Lockington United at Bamawm.
Set a moderate 128 by the home team, Fire Brigade looked to have the flag in its grasp at 4/107 in reply after teenage talent Liam Francis with 25 and veteran Trevor Watts had added 32 for the fifth wicket.
But when Watts went for 14 the Brigade tailenders folded, with the last six wickets falling for just 16 runs, leaving the Flames an agonising six runs short in pursuit of the flag.
Francis top-scored with 25 and was the third last batsmen out.
Openers Brett Andison (19) and Phil Carroll (8) shared an opening stand of 27 to give the Brigade a positive start in its run chase.
For the Flames Tom Owen and Rikki Busch both captured two wickets and Steve George and Matt Fleming one each in an attack that generally dictated the terms to the BLU batsmen, who had their most productive run-getters in opener Josh Cairns with 41 and Cameron Laird with 25.
C Grade (Gus Underwood Shield)
Echuca gradually wound in Moama’s score of 143 to win the C grade premiership in another tight tussle.
James Simpson held the Moama innings together with an unbeaten 59 but Echuca, led by Dhwanish Patel (41) and opener Jake Logie (35), gradually hauled in the Moama score, but with only two wickets in hand.
Three-wicket hauls to Echuca’s Zac Hegarty and Josh Huntly were vital contributions while Dylan Jenkins, the eighth bowler used by Moama, almost became the unlikely hero, capturing 5/19 off six overs.
D Grade (Peter Raglus Shield)
Fire Brigade missed out on the flag after its batsmen could muster only 106 against Echuca South in the clash at Brick Alley Oval, Moama.
Opener Matt Schubach with 34 flew the flag for the Flames’ batters, who had only two other players, Simon Doolan (12) and his son Shaun (11), to reach double figures.
Schubach hit three fours and a six and faced 56 deliveries.
In reply Mitch Stephens anchored the South innings with a half-century and with Daniel Stephens (19) got their side over the line in the 30th over with only four wickets down.
