McMahon Shield | Echuca South notches drought-breaking win over Rochester

Sri Lankan import Asantha Singappuli was the star of the show in his first game for the club with 2-15 off nine overs and 76 not-out with the bat to help South salute a four-wicket win.

Echuca South captain Ben Eade said it was exciting to be on the board once more, but admitted it could have been a long day on the park after Rochester’s fast start with the bat.

“We’ve been waiting a while so it was good to get one on the board, especially for some of the young blokes, they haven’t played in an A-grade win,” Eade said.

“(Rochester) took the game on at the start. (Adrian) Pappin hit a six on the third ball and we thought we might be in for a long day.

“They took it to us early on and then we pegged it back with some wickets.”

Pappin and Blake Evans’ blistering start saw Rochester score at 10 an over for the first five overs, but the opening pair’s influence was blunted by South bowler Jayden Rosin, who claimed the scalps of Pappin and danger man Sean Williams for a duck.

Singappuli snared the wickets of Adam Ward (eight runs) and Evans (36) to reduce Rochy to 4-49 before Joel Bunce and Dylan Cuttriss steadied the ship with a 31-run partnership.

Eade enticed an ill-fated shot from opposing skipper Cuttriss to see the Rochy batter depart for 24, while Brandon Byrne holed out cheaply to the bowling of Shaun Haffenden for eight.

Bunce kept the run rate ticking over with a well-compiled 51 before Haffenden took his wicket, and a Jesse Cuttriss 33 helped Rochy to a score of 208, which could have been more if not for some miserly South bowling.

“We took a bit of pace off the ball with three spinners and that worked in our favour,” Eade said.

“They got a bit of a run on and we dropped quite a few catches, which was disappointing, but we fought back at the end.

“The last five or six overs we pegged them back a bit — we could have been chasing 230, 240.”

Needing to chase more than 200, South proceeded to turn one of its weak points in recent times into one of its strengths.

“Intent” with the bat was the key for South, according to Eade, emulating Rochester’s fast start through opening batsmen Rosin (39 runs) and Clayton Watson (18).

The pair posted a 43-run first-wicket stand before Adam Ward snared the wicket of Watson, with Pappin then sending Rosin on his way.

Singappuli arrived at the crease with South on 3-68 and his measured innings proved decisive, finishing with 76 from 88 after not scoring for 22 deliveries.

“We’ve been trying to get him over since the start of the season,” Eade said of Singappuli.

“It was good to finally have him there and he starred with the ball. He took 2-15 off his nine overs whereas everyone else went for more than 40.

“He paced himself with the bat, he was four from about 30 balls and didn’t panic at all.

“In his next 60 balls, he would have scored 70 runs, no dramas at all.

“There was only one player who didn’t make double figures which is great for us, it’s a really even contribution.

“To have the other guys stand up around him was good.”

Eade said the victory laid an exciting platform for his side and he hoped the Swans could ruffle a few feathers heading into the second half of the season.

“We don’t want to say the ‘F’ word and say we’re pushing for finals but we’re in a position now where we can shape how the competition goes,” he said.

“We can ruin a few seasons or we can put the pressure on a few teams if we roll them.

“We’ve got the monkey off the back and we can try to push a few teams in the back half of the year.”

With four games to play until finals, the Swans sit eighth, two games adrift of the top four, while Rochester sits in seventh, its finals hopes in the balance.

South tackles Bamawm-Lockington United in round 11, while Rochester will be hoping to rebound next week against Kyabram Fire Brigade.