Bohden Learmonth led the Flames with 65.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Kyabram Fire Brigade have secured a place in the post-season after cruising to a dominant 118-run victory over Echuca South in the final round of the McMahon Shield.
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Visiting South won the toss and elected to bowl, with the Flames making a solid if unspectacular start to their innings.
Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Cooper Fawcett hits a lofted drive. Photo: Matthew Kappos
AK Gunathilaka claimed the first wicket of Cohan Hooper (12) with an lbw, and Kyabram were 3-50 at one stage when Shaun Haffenden dismissed Miller Griffiths (9) and Shannon Fleming (2).
Jake Gascoyne and Bohden Learmonth briefly steadied the ship before the former was removed by Asantha Singappuli.
Shaun Haffenden unleashes.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Kyabram’s fifth and sixth wicket partnerships would ultimately be key, as Learmonth and Cooper Fawcett first combined for 38 before Fawcett and captain Robert Salter posted a partnership of 35.
Learmonth’s innings was particularly impressive, as he posted 65 off just 73 balls, smashing six fours and three sixes to record his third-highest score of the season.
Wicketkeeper Jayden Rosin shows quick reflexes up close.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
By the time the sixth wicket partnership came to an end when Fawcett (29) was dismissed in the 41st over, Kyabram still had just under 10 overs to build a solid total.
It did so, with an eighth wicket partnership of 33 between Hunter Fawcett (18 not out) andWill Harrison (23) key to further elevating the innings, as the Flames set 203 for the Swans to chase.
Simon Van Duinen resets for his next delivery.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Gunathilaka (2-50) and Simon Van Duinen (2-36) did the most damage with ball in hand for the visitors, as Sachin Peiris (0-43) and Singappuli (1-26) were thwarted after both ripped through Tongala last week.
South had successfully chased down totals such as 235 and 226 already this season, but its innings quickly turned into a forgetful one, at one stage being 4-20.
Flames captain Salter dominated the Swans with the ball, recording match-best figures of 5-20 from only eight overs.
He claimed the first two wickets of Ben Eade (8) and Jayden Rosin (6), being aided by Oliver Hughes (2-13) in a phenomenal display by Kyabram’s bowling attack, right when it was needed most.
Swans captain Rathika Rajakumara did his best to spark life into the chase with an impressive 50 off 51 balls, but he had little support.
He was the only South batter to score more than 10 runs in a disastrous innings that saw three ducks and came to a close after just 30 overs.
The Flames delivered in a must-win clash to finish fourth and set up a semi-final meeting with table-topper Moama next week.
Meanwhile, the Swans will have to regroup ahead of their own semi-final, with defeat meaning they will travel to face Bamawm-Lockington United.
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