Jackson Barnett took team-high bowling figures of 3-17 against Echuca in round two. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
After suffering a defeat to Moama in the opening round of the 2025-26 McMahon Shield, Fire Brigade looked to oust defending champions Echuca in round two.
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Unfortunately, the green machine delivered a true team effort to surge past the Flames at Moon Oval.
Winning the toss and playing to its strengths, Fire Brigade sent Echuca in to bat and while Curtis Townrow and Brendan Moyle started off hot, smashing 17 runs off the first two overs, the former was trapped LBW by Rob Salter for seven at the start of the third over.
It wasn’t long before fellow opener Moyle was heading back to the sheds, nicking one to wicket keeper Shannon Fleming off young gun Jackson Barnett’s bowling for 11.
The Flames celebrate a wicket.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Archer Carlile was joined by his brother Easton out in the middle for a short period of time before both were dismissed within two overs.
Aidan Young didn’t (9) contribute much in his 15 balls at the crease before Oliver Hughes found the edge of his bat.
With Echuca reeling at 5-53, veteran Anthony Dennis and up-and-comer Ben Henson dug in through the middle of the innings, navigating the Flames’ tricky bowling for 18 overs.
Robert Salter sends down a bullet.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The pair’s patience and resilience allowed for a 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Henson making 23 from 73 balls and Dennis top-scoring with a gritty 65.
Outside that pivotal partnership, none of Echuca’s tail wagged, with the side bowled out for a respectable 159 as Jackson Barnett, Riley Carver and Oliver Hughes all took three wickets.
In the second innings, the green machine struck in the third delivery of the second innings as UK import Joshua Wills bowled Shannon Fleming for a golden duck.
Hunter Fawcett fires it into the keeper.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The partnership of Miller Griffiths and Bohden Learmonth made it through to the 13th over before the former was trapped LBW by Aidan Young for 18.
Ky Fire Brigade was off to a much better start to its innings than the defending champs, with Jake Gascoyne (5) departing in the 24th over.
Learmonth and Cooper Fawcett managed to bring their side to the verge of triple figures before the former’s impressive effort was brought undone by Ben Henson for 46.
Jake Gascoyne saves a boundary.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Fawcett (20) was sent packing shortly after, with Henson striking again in the 35th over.
With the Flames needing 60 for victory in 15 overs and plenty of wickets in hand, the game looked all but lost for Echuca.
Yet, the four-time defending champions showed why they have had the majority share of the McMahon Shield to start the decade.
Archer Carlisle defends a good ball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
It was a well-rounded bowling effort for the green machine as nobody batting six or lower made more than nine runs for the visitors, who were bowled out in the 46th over for 126, 33 runs shy of victory.
The loss gets Ky Fire Brigade off to a precarious 0-2 start to the new season, the team sitting in seventh in front of only Nondies-Cohuna and Letichville-Gunbower.
The Flames will have a chance to realign and train, with the bye this Saturday before looking to get on the winners’ list in round four against Tongala.
The game
Echuca 159 (Anthony Dennis 65, Ben Henson 23, Jackson Barnett 3-17) defeated Kyabram Fire Brigade 126 (Bohden Learmonth 46, Cooper Fawcett 20, Ben Henson 4-13)
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