It was a batter’s paradise this week in Goulburn Murray Cricket, at least if you padded up first.
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Of the 18 games played on Saturday (including A-grade), 16 matches had the team batting first set a total beyond its opposition and go on to win.
Bill Williams Goulburn B-grade Shield
Moama remains in a share of the lead in the Bill Williams Goulburn B-grade Shield after taking down Rushworth by 124 runs on Saturday.
Batting first at Moama Recreation Reserve, the Mowers were led at the top of the order by Kirk Teasdale, who made a quality 60, while young gun Max Johns fell agonisingly short of a half-ton with 49.
Joshua Newton took 4-44, but Moama was still able to accumulate 9-199 in its 40 overs.
The Rushworth chase never really built much momentum and only Ahmad Karamat (14) and Thomas Stevens (13) could reach double figures as the Tigers were bowled out for 75.
Duane Johns grabbed a five-for (5-21), while Teasdale backed up his batting with 3-11.
Stanhope ran up a big score, 6-239, which BLU (55 all out) was unable to chase down.
Matthew Evans (58) and Jonathon Pearson (55) logged twin half-centuries to put Stanhope on the right track early, while Jack Donaldson followed up with 5-30 to skittle the BLU batting line-up.
James Harney belted 94 from 65 to lead Elmore to a big, 197 to 56 win over Colbinabbin.
Matthew Woolley was Harney’s able deputy with the bat, while Harney proved his dominance in the second innings by also adding 5-14 to his personal stat book.
Cooma’s 6-228 was a bridge too far for Kyabram Fire Brigade to chase down.
Liam Scopelliti exploded for 81 to help his side set a big target and Ethan Palma-Ludeman supported with the ball, taking 3-36.
Nick Smart made 50 for Fire Brigade, while Brett Andison (47) almost matched the feat.
Bill Williams Murray B-grade Shield
Tongala was in serious trouble at 6-58, before Hugo Monnich Vo and Travis Johnstone linked up to add 158 for the seventh wicket,
Monnich Vo made 61 unbeaten and Johnstone remained 79 not out as the Blues posted 6-216, Callum Tucker then taking 5-13 to help crush Kyabram Fire Brigade’s chase, the Flames all out for 189.
Gus Underwood C-grade Shield
League leader Stanhope stayed unbeaten with a comprehensive 160-run victory over Echuca South.
The Lions made 7-258 off the back of 58 from Shannon McMahon-Kinnear, a run-a-ball 47 from Jayke Fisher and a rapid 42 from 28 from Manojkumarchowdary Boddu.
South was then skittled for 98 thanks to Lennon Hall’s 3-11 and Cooper Fisher’s 3-30.
Girgarre ran up a similarly big score against Cooma, Charles Lowe (98) falling cruelly short of a century and Rhys Febey (52) also making 50 as the Roos put together 5-268.
Cooma crumbled quickly for 75 after an Oscar McKeown demolition job, the Girgarre strike man taking 7-24.
Peter Raglus D-grade Shield
Murchison posted 3-159, with Ray Young retiring with his 50 and the total was more than enough to see off Colbinabbin.
Only Guy Rathjen (30) got anything going for the Ducks, as Esther Ewart took four wickets to see Murch home.
Tongala would have hoped for more than the 7-103 it accumulated in the first innings, particularly after many batters made starts, but the Blues did enough to defend the total against BLU.
Baylee Letiza (4-16) and Luke Buchanan (4-11) were stars with the ball as the Blues dispatched the Lions for 89.
Girgarre had three players notch 50s as they put together 3-208 against Kyabram Fire Brigade.
Jay Ferguson, Aled Denton and Angus Scoble all retired after making a half-century, while in reply, Jeff Turpin also cracked 50, but the Flames fell short, making only 159.
Stanhope prevailed over Rushworth, easily chasing down the 131 required for victory.
The Tigers ground out a gritty 6-130, including Heath Ogden retiring not out with his 50.
Shannon Aynsley made the chase look easy, also retiring with a half-century, the Lions reaching 1-133 in 28 overs.