McMahon Shield | Hinks, Jones power Echuca past Cooma

By Bransen Gibson

Jan 8, 2023

Fine form: Echuca’s Matt Hinks made yet another impressive score on Saturday, blasting 91 runs against Cooma. Photo: Steve Huntley

Echuca got 2023 off to the perfect start after a comfortable 53-run win over Cooma on Saturday.

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The Green Caps powered to 8-196 thanks to a brilliant knock of 91 by Goulburn Murray Cricket’s leading scorer Matt Hinks, before Cooma was knocked over for 143 in reply.

Rylea Jones was exceptional with the ball for Echuca, taking 6-31 from his 8.2 overs.

Conditions were perfect for cricket at Victoria Park in Echuca, with warm weather and a wealth of sunshine beaming down.

But before the action got under way, both teams held a moment of silence to pay their respects to teenager Levi Griffiths, who tragically passed away in December.

Touching moment: Echuca and Cooma players hold a minute’s silence in honour of Levi Griffiths. Photo: Steve Huntley

Cooma was on the hunt for its first win of the season and things got off to the perfect start with the very first ball.

Ben Napier sent down an absolute peach, which Brendan Moyle could only edge in to the hands of Ethan Palma-Ludeman.

Moyle’s departure brought Hinks to the crease, with the star batsman putting on yet another clinic with the willow.

Hinks belted nine fours and three sixes on his way to 91, notching his fourth half-century in five games.

However, the 100-mark remains elusive, with Hinks out in the 90s for the second time this season.

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Hinks has scored as many runs as his hair is long this season, with 379 runs on the board already — by far the most in the league.

His stellar innings, alongside a knock of 30 from his brother, Charlie, saw the host reach 8-196 at the end of its innings.

Cooma needed to put together its highest score of the season so far to earn victory, but it stood no chance against Echuca and the red-hot Jones.

The visiting side made a solid start at 0-20, but things unravelled from there.

At the crease: Echuca’s Aidan Young in action against Cooma at Victoria Park. Photo: Steve Huntley

Jones dismissed openers Liam (6) and Mason Scopelliti (10) in quick succession, followed by Robert Trewin for a duck as Cooma was suddenly 3-27.

Palma-Ludeman and Jack Norris were both out bowled by Jones, while Cooper Fawcett was knocked over by Ben Holt.

All three were dismissed for ducks, leaving Cooma languishing at 6-31.

A resilient knock of 42 not out from Thomas Guerra added some respectability to the scoreline, before Jones bowled Xavier Fawcett to claim his sixth wicket of the match and end Cooma’s innings at 143.

The win is Echuca’s third of the season and has the side sitting in fourth on the ladder. Cooma is in last place with no wins and three losses so far this season.