Cricket season is well and truly under way, with the lower grades starting their campaigns in the Goulburn Murray Cricket competition at the weekend.
Bill Williams Goulburn B-grade Shield
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Echuca and Moama faced off at Victoria Park in their opening round clash, with the home side winning the toss and electing to bowl.
Harry Kennedy-Ripon made light work of Moama’s top order, snaring 3-5 from six overs as Echuca bowled the visitors out for 89.
Matthew Key was Moama’s best with the bat, top-scoring with 24, while captain Simon Porter was next best with 13.
Echuca comfortably chased down the total in 24 overs, ending on 3-95 with Rory Carlile smacking 24 not out as the top-scorer, well supported by Connor Shannon (18) and Ty Parsons (16 not out).
Stanhope enjoyed a 28-run win over BLU in their clash, as Craig Emmett (46) and captain Brad Stewart (33) guided the home side to 8-157 after being sent in.
Brett Mundie and Cameron laird bowled well for BLU, each claiming two wickets.
James McPhee (35) and Laird (24) were valiant with the willow, but Jacob Gillie’s 3-18 was the highlight of a strong Stanhope attack that kept BLU to just 9-129.
Rushworth proved too strong for Kyabram Fire Brigade, claiming a 23-run (8-145 to 9-122) win courtesy of a Daniel Newton knock of 42 at number nine.
Thomas Stevens (20) was the only other player to get out of the teens for Rushworth, as Kyabram captain Rikki Busch claimed 3-22.
Brett Andison started strongly for the Firies, posting 61, however Trevor Watts (11) was the sole batsman aside from Andison to make it into double figures.
Stevens (3-17) and Regan Hanson (3-12) did the damage for Rushworth with the ball.
Elmore proved a class above Northern United, claiming a 37-run win.
Matt Gilmore (42), James Harney (29) and Dylan Oaff (29 not out) helped Elmore to 6-155 after batting first, while Chris Hearn’s 2-16 was the best with the ball for the Goats.
Timothy Herman (25) and Scott Thompson (23) tried hard in reply for the Goats, although Elmore, led by Matt Gilmour (2-10), was too strong.
Bill Williams Murray B-grade Shield
Rochester claimed a 10-run win over Cooma in their round one clash, despite being bowled out for 90.
Matthew Harrington top-scored for Rochester with 41, while Zai Davies took 5-11 for the visiting Cooma.
Russell Napier managed 21 in reply for the visitors, who were bowled out for 80 after Rory Harrington (4-12) and Shane Broucek (4-17) did the damage.
Girgarre posted 9-146 in their clash against Leitchville-Gunbower, before bowling the visitors out for 91 to claim a 55-run win.
Rex Taylor top-scored for Girgarre with 70, also claiming 6-19 with the ball, while Matthew Pollock’s 38 was the best effort by a Leitchville-Gunbower batsman.
Colbinabbin and Echuca South played out a tie in a thrilling first-up encounter.
Colbinabbin batted first and was bowled out for 127, with Xavier Hooppell’s 31 the top score for the home side. Thomas Morphett was the best of the Echuca South bowlers, claiming 4-43.
Morphett was at the forefront with the bat for the Swans, blasting 28 to top score, as Jude Ryan claimed 3-28 with the ball for Colbinabbin, including the final wicket to secure the tie.
Gus Underwood C-grade Shield
Stanhope claimed a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Echuca South, cruising to 2-125 in reply to the Swans’ 8-122.
Jack Hepburn made 57 not out as Stanhope’s best, while Lion Adam Braithwaite’s figures of 3-25 were a game-high.
The match between BLU and Nondies-Cohuna was cancelled.
Peter Raglus D-grade Shield
Echuca comfortably chased down Rushworth’s total of 5-63 to finish on 2-64, claiming an eight-wicket win.
Ashley Smith top-scored for Echuca with 29, also claiming 2-18 with the ball.
Cooma’s score of 4-162 proved to be light work for Tongala, who claimed a nine-wicket win after reaching 1-164 in reply.
Ben Nexhip (50) and Luke Buchanan (51) both retired after doing the damage with the bat for the Blues.
Kyabram Fire Brigade claimed a crushing 111-run win over Stanhope, posting 3-202 before restricting the Lions to just 4-91 in their innings.
Michael Perella and Michael Cottrell were prolific with the bat, reaching 51 and 50 respectively.
The match between BLU and Echuca South was called off.
Riverside Concrete Cutting senior women's
Echuca’s women got their season off to a flyer, claiming a 13-run win over Kyabram Redbacks.
Sent in to bat, Echuca posted 7-97 from 20 overs, with Melissa Ferguson top-scoring on 20 not out, while Molly Carver claimed 3-3 for the Redbacks.
Carver’s 14 with the bat was Kyabram’s best in reply, as Isla Laffy claimed 3-4 and led the charge as Echuca bowled its opposition out for 84.
Shepparton Youth Club put a total of 1-141 on the board against Rochester, led by Mel Saunders (40), while Rebecca Laino took 3-9 as Rochester could muster just 9-61.
Some scores for lower grade games were unavailable at the time of writing.