The Cats lost only one game last campaign, on the final day against the locals, and they look to be the side to beat again this year; the question being whether Echuca can repeat the turnaround it managed nine months ago.
Mooroopna was victorious by 34 runs in round five, frustrating the Echuca batters into a start-stop run chase that ran out of balls well short of the target.
The match took place at Moama Recreation Reserve, Echuca electing to send Mooroopna in.
There was early joy for the champion, as Lauren Hall was sent to the sheds early without scoring.
Charlie Nicholson (11) and Amani Issell (1) also failed to make much of an impact on the scoreboard, bringing Gemma Boyd and Kelsey McDonald to the crease.
Boyd would prove the anchor of the Cats’ innings, making 44 before retiring, McDonald also retiring, unbeaten on 21.
Maggie Egglestone (19 not out) shouldered the scoring load in the later overs as Mooroopna posted 4-121 from its 20 overs.
Chloe Moyle (1-9) kept the run rate down in her three overs, while Jessica Cox (1-20) and Sophie Good (1-25) also made breakthroughs for Echuca.
Moyle worked hard at the top of the order as Echuca began its reply, eventually retiring with what would turn out to be an innings best 21 runs.
Sophie Good and Grace Riddell (both 13) were the other major contributors, but with wickets falling at regular intervals, Echuca wasn’t able to muster the scoring rate required to run down Mooroopna, finishing at 6-87.
Boyd followed her starring performance with the bat with 3-18 in the Cats’ bowling innings, with Bella Woods (2-6) and Charlie Nicholson (1-11) also taking wickets.
Echuca will take on Moama in a local derby on Sunday at Moama Recreation Reserve.
Moama vs Cooma
The Mowers arrested a two-game losing slide, taking down Cooma by eight wickets at Cooma Recreation Reserve.
The host batted first, but found itself in early trouble, losing Cathy Dervish within the first over.
Ruby and Evie Harman steadied the innings with a lengthy stay at the crease, adding 28 runs before the pair fell in quick succession, leaving Cooma at 3-35.
Coming in at number six, Breanna Baker was the top performer for Cooma, scoring a brisk 36 not out from 29 deliveries, including five fours, to guide her side to 7-108 from its 20 overs.
Hanna Rath-Kenny took 3-30 to lead the Moama bowling contingent, while Jordan Dalziel and Isla and Delaney Laffy also took wickets.
Moama set about the run chase with openers Olivia Davy and Ariel Howe in the middle.
Cathy Dervish struck with the opening ball of the second over, removing Howe to give Cooma hope of defending its total, but the introduction of Delaney Laffy at number three would prove the turning point of the innings.
Working with Davy, Laffy went on the attack, finding the rope on 11 occasions to record a brilliant half-century, before retiring on 56.
The more measured Davy also hit the ball limit and retired, contributing 14 runs.
A cameo of 15 from 12 from Isla Laffy brought Moama within 10 of the target before she fell at 2-98.
Jada Bover and Beatrix Bray kept their heads and checked off the remaining runs, Moama passing Cooma’s score at 2-109 in the 14th over.
Dervish (1-19) and Breanna Baker (1-15) were the wicket-takers for Cooma, which couldn’t contain the Laffy-led surge of Moama.
Moama will face-off with champion Echuca at Moama Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
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