Nondies a non-starter in face of L-G

By Matthew Kappos

Dec 22, 2024

Billy Hawken’s unbeaten half-century helped his side cruise to victory against Nondies-Cohuna. Photo: Aidan Briggs. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The woes of Nondies-Cohuna in the McMahon Shield have continued, while Leitchville-Gunbower remains resurgent after round nine action.

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The Goulburn Murray Cricket contest was the most one-sided of the round, with Nondies’ total easily run down by the L-G batting order at Gunbower Recreation Reserve.

Nondies elected to bat first after winning the toss, but lost Xavier Wishart early to start 1-11.

Fellow opener Zeb Ellwood was the first of five Nondies batsmen to make starts but became the first of those five to fall when he departed for 19, his side 2-36.

The Wills, Ringin (22) and O’Shea (11), added 21 but were sent to the sheds in consecutive overs, Nondies facing down a collapse at 4-56.

The introduction of Broden Wishart steadied things somewhat for Nondies, and Angus Donat (11) proved a useful deputy during his 34 balls in the middle.

Wishart found less resilience among the rest of the order once Donat was back in the pavilion and the visitor’s final five batsmen were gone in an innings-ending stretch of 5-15.

Wishart was left stranded on 33 not out, looking like he could have been the man to go on for a big score, had he had any partners left to bat with or balls left to score from, his side finishing all out for 117.

Simon Tatt assisted in the demolition of the lower order, three of his 4-26 part of the final five dismissals.

Marcus Stubbs and Jed Brereton (both 2-18) were also multiple-wicket takers.

Leitchville-Gunbower had plenty of time to hunt down the modest 118 needed but wasn’t interested in prolonging proceedings.

Billy Hawken was full of purpose at the top of the order, and although L-G was in a tenuous position at 2-20, his partnership with Brereton (19), good for 83 runs, put their side within reach of the win.

Hawken surpassed 50 late on, finishing 56 unbeaten as L-G reached 4-119 in 24 overs, just over half the 45 allowed.

No bowler could snag more than one wicket for Nondies. Matthew Robinson (1-19), Kyeran Ellery (1-23) and Tim Johnson (1-24) each chipped in.

An impressive quotient sees L-G currently in the top four, with Moama the assignment after the Christmas break.

January 11 will also see what could have been the battle of the league’s winless sides, Tongala and Nondies-Cohuna, but the Blues’ upset of Echuca at the weekend sees Nondies enter as the underdog once again.

The Game

Nondies-Cohuna 117 (Broden Wishart 33 not out, Simon Tatt 4-26) lost to Leitchville-Gunbower 4-119 (Billy Hawken 56 not out, Jed Brereton 19, Matthew Robinson 1-19)