The Goulburn Murray Cricket Twenty20 competition continued on Thursday, and with the competition lasting only three rounds, every matchup is valuable.
Echuca vs Echuca South
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In the local derby, it took Echuca until the last over to overcome Echuca South by three wickets.
South batted first at Victoria Park and looked on track for a big total after openers James Vlaeminck and captain Jayden Rosin put together a powerful opening stand.
The duo put on 57 for the first wicket in just five overs, before Aidan Young took the first of what would become a four-wicket haul, getting through Vlaeminck’s (20) defences.
Asantha Singapulli got off the mark immediately with a single, but a disastrous over continued for the Swans as he was run out a delivery later.
Echuca was on a team hat-trick after Rosin (32) popped one into the hands of Nathan Elliott a ball later, South quickly sliding to 3-58.
The middle order came away with little to show for its efforts, no batter making it to double-figures as the run-rate slowed to a standstill.
More wickets fell, and the Swans were at a dismal 9-83, having lost 9-26 since the opening partnership.
Number 11 Ben Eade added a little respectability to his sides score, finding the route to the boundary three times in a 15 run cameo before his dismissal, Young’s fourth, saw the innings conclude eight balls early, South all out for 100.
Young (4-15) was a standout for Echuca, while Cory Jacobs 2-2 from two overs was a phenomenal effort in the T20 format.
It looked as if the pitch was providing plenty early in the run chase as Echuca started how South had left off, losing wickets,
Opener Brendan Moyle lasted just three balls before he was deceived by Singappuli, stumped by keeper Grady Smith.
1-0 became 2-9 when the dangerous Curtis Townrow couldn’t keep out another Singappuli gem, and South looked like it may have the capacity to defend its modest total.
James Grixti provided a quick 11 before the partnership of the innings was forged by Koby James and Aidan Young.
James’ composed 32 from 42 provided the stability Echuca needed chasing a small total, while Young proved a useful deputy, contributing 19.
The two put on 34 to bring their side to 50, James hanging around to see Cory Jacobs (10) and Anthony Dennis (6) come and go before he eventually went to make the score 7-94.
Charlie Hinks (12 not out), and Liam Bowe (3 not out) were then able to close out the innings in the final over, reaching 7-101 with four balls to spare.
Singappuli (2-6) had best figures for the Swans, Echuca looking uninterested in attacking off his four overs.
Tristan Watson (2-20) also added two wickets.
Kyabram Fire Brigade vs Rochester
A strong knock at the top has helped Kyabram Fire Brigade down Rochester in the second round of the Goulburn Murray Cricket Twenty20 competition.
The Flames took the game by a comprehensive 54 runs, both the batting and bowling units putting in good shifts at Northern Oval in Kyabram on Thursday.
Fire Brigade batted first in the contest, and opener Bohden Learmonth got his side away on the front foot.
He partnered with his captain Kaine Herbert (16) to add 35 for the first wicket, before the Flames skipper was removed by Myles Wade.
Learmonth continued to attack, losing Robert Salter (4) and Shannon Fleming (2) along the way but powering to a valuable 50.
He eventually lost his wicket to start the 16th over, departing for 57 from 46 balls, including three fours and as many sixes.
It left the Flames at 4-99 with just under five overs remaining. Tim Nelson (20 not out) and Miller Griffiths (24) made a late charge to progress their side to 5-134 by the end of the innings.
Alice Caldow was the only Rochy bowler to snag multiple wickets, taking 2-17, while Jesse Cuttriss added 1-30 and Myles Wade (1-26) had a busy day in the field, adding two catches and a run-out to his one scalp.
The Rochester run chase never really got going as regular wickets stunted any attempt to lift the run rate.
Both openers found the boundary but departed reasonably cheaply, putting Rochy in a slight hole at 2-29.
Henry Rathjen had the best performance of the innings, making 24 off 18, but he too couldn’t push on to a big score, joining Matthew Harrington (2) in the sheds.
Sean Williams (16) also made a start but was included in a middle order capitulation that saw the visitor lose 4-1 in an 11-ball stretch.
Eight down for 63 and with seven overs to play, there was little hope of Rochester chasing down the target and the innings petered out to an all out 80.
Robert Salter (3-12) and Tom Owen (3-18) shared leading wicket-taking honours, while Riley Carver (2-12) and Shaun Doolan (2-9) also made breakthroughs.
Nondies-Cohuna vs Leitchville-Gunbower
Nondies-Cohuna improved on its form in the McMahon Shield, registering a 55-run win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
Nondies were sent in by L-G at Cohuna Recreation Reserve and were in early trouble after losing Jake Klemm with the first ball of the second over.
Darren Rushton entered at number three and turned the tide with an aggressive innings.
He belted 96 off 50 balls including 11 fours and five sixes, falling agonisingly short of a century.
Sam O’Shea was chief among the supporting cast, getting on with the job after Rushton’s departure and making 36 not out, Nondies setting an imposing 4-170.
No L-G bowler was able to take more than a single wicket, Billy Hawken (1-13) the most economical of the four wicket-takers.
An early procession of wickets saw Leitchville-Gunbower in all sorts early, losing 3-8.
Remaining opener Tyler Jones (34) and Simon Tatt (20) steadied the innings getting their side past 50, but L-G had plenty of work to do.
The visitor found itself short on balls and wickets as the innings rolled on, and despite cameos from James Keath (21) and Lewis Stubbs (20 not out) the L-G innings petered out to 9-115.
Zeb Ellwood was the most damaging of the bowlers for Nondies, taking 3-14.
Cadet sports journalist