Determined: Matthew Hinks held the Echuca innings together, accumulating 49 from 149 deliveries. Photos: Bruce Povey
Rochester’s season may be ending in heartbreak after Echuca finished day one well on top in their McMahon Shield clash at Victoria Park.
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After winning its past six matches Rochester clung on to a top-four place heading into the final Goulburn Murray Cricket round.
However, game situations across the league put its finals hopes in jeopardy, with the visitor crumbling to 6-39 at stumps in response to Echuca’s 136.
Fired up: Matt Harrington celebrates his catch of Kobyn James.
The host side was sent in to bat and started shakily, losing openers Curtis Townrow (4) and Ewan Davidson (10) cheaply to fall to 2-19.
Matthew Hinks came to the crease and settled in for the long haul.
As others fell around him he remained steadfast, facing 149 deliveries on his way to 49 and, by the time he was dismissed, Echuca had clawed its way to a respectable 9-128, with the home side eventually posting 136.
Skittled: Angus Martin gets through Aidan Young’s defences after setting him up with a short ball.
Brendan Moyle (24) was the only other Echuca batter to get going, while star all-rounder Sean Williams shone with the ball for Rochester, snagging figures of 4-29.
Dylan Cuttriss (2-15) and Angus Martin (2-29) added two wickets each for the visiting side, which then looked to respond in its own innings.
Frustrated: Echuca opener Ewan Davidson is out for 10, with his team struggling.
After his heroics with the bat, Hinks all but took the game from Rochester with the ball, knocking over Rochy’s entire top six single-handedly to have figures of 6-13 at stumps.
The previous week’s two best performers, Williams and Cuttris, fell for ducks this time around, while no batter has made it past 10 so far.
Angus Martin (10 not out) and Matthew Harrington (4 not out) must build a significant seventh wicket stand if the visitors have any hope of securing vital points from this game.
Near miss: Captain Simon Maddox survives a chance down the leg side, the ball narrowly evading the grasp of wicketkeeper Oliver Williams.
Meanwhile, an outright win could be on the cards for Bamawm-Lockington United, which has already sewn up first innings honours against Nondies-Cohuna on day one.
In the game at Cohuna Recreation Reserve the host was dismissed for 86, with BLU wasting no time surpassing it, ending the day 1-153, well positioned to secure maximum points.
BLU captain Regis Chakabva extended his run of consecutive half-centuries to six innings, this time going one better as he remained undefeated on 116 at stumps.
Return to sender: James Grixti drives the ball back where it came from, into the hands of bowler Sean Williams.
Elsewhere, a strong batting innings has put Moama in an enviable position in its crucial fixture with Kyabram Fire Brigade.
In a must-win game for the Flames, Moama batted throughout the whole day, with the home side eventually all out for 289.
Fraser Buchanan (70), Matt Saunders (83) and Jack Russell (86) raised the bat for Moama during the onslaught, while Robert Salter 5-36 dazzled with the ball for the Flames.
Echuca South has made a strong start at home on day one against Leitchville-Gunbower as it looks to keep its McMahon Shield campaign alive.
L-G won the toss and elected to bat first, but was bowled out for 95, with the Swans travelling nicely at 2-54 at stumps.
Lastly, Tongala heads into day two at 3-24 chasing Cooma’s mediocre total of 151.
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