Chalking up the runs: SRP Mud Dogs' Andrew Chalkley attempts a ramp shot during his side’s match against Sporties Spitfires on Sunday.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League’s new kid on the block is a flat-track bully.
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Bendigo-based franchise Sporties Spitfires has shot to the top of the pile after knocking over two-time league winners SRP Mud Dogs in a low-scoring Sunday affair at Deakin Reserve.
It’s as good an introduction as any in the adolescent competition.
The Mud Dogs’ solid run platform tanked as they lost 5-8 to derail their course toward a par score of 150, which was demonstrated in the earlier game.
But given the hosts’ start, onlookers wouldn’t have dismissed them putting 200 on the big screen.
The first over went for a single, but in the next, Andrew Chalkley demoralised Spitfires bowler Jack Pysing with a pair of boundaries and two sixes from four torrid balls to shoot Mud Dogs out to a rollicking opening.
Chalkley (29 off 14) continued to trundle along, but skied one to deep mid-wicket off a looped Kyle Humphrys delivery and, even with Sam Pearce and Will Parker going cheaply, it wasn’t panic stations just yet.
But they didn’t have to wait long to slam on the button.
The Mud Dogs signalled drinks after Numurkah import James Du Toit (17) had his stumps shattered by Humphrys, and the Spitfires jumped on the chance to squeeze.
Two wickets fell in the over after drinks and one in the next and when Taylor Beard was run out off a wide at 8-69, the dominoes were almost dropping too fast to believe.
Du the business: Mud Dogs' James Du Toit.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
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Death rattle: Mud Dogs' James Du Toit is bowled by Kyle Humphrys.
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Aydin Payne
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Flick the wrist: Spitfires' Brett Hamblin.
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Aydin Payne
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Thrash at it: Mud Dogs' Tyler Larkin.
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Aydin Payne
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Rolling through: Spitfires' Chathura Damith.
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Aydin Payne
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Revolutions: Spitfires' Kyle Humphrys.
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Aydin Payne
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Applying heat: Spitfires' Will McGillivray.
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Aydin Payne
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Stepping out: SRP Mud Dogs' Will Parker.
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Aydin Payne
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Got him: Spitfires' Xavier Ryan.
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Aydin Payne
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Smith’s crisp: Sporties Spitfires' Liam Smith was a force with the ball in his sides’ four-wicket win over SRP Mud Dogs on Sunday.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Spitfires would bowl the home side out for 90, with Liam Smith (3-14), Humphrys (3-25) and Brent Hamblin (2-7) doing the bulk of the damage.
Mud Dogs had to bite back and they did.
Ethan Baxter snared the scalp of Ex-Melbourne Renegade James Seymour for a two-ball duck in over one and Du Toit just held on to a deep catch six balls later to send Humphrys packing.
A trio of snappy wickets then had Spitfires sweating at 5-15 and when Parker bamboozled Ben Williams, the red-clad unit was in serious trouble with 65 runs still to make.
However, that was as good as it got for the Mud Dogs as Chathura Damith (33 not out) and Xavier Ryan (30 not out) dragged their side across the line with 16 balls remaining.
Baxter, Beard and Parker took two wickets each during the Mud Dogs’ loss, which pushes them down to third.
Meanwhile, Spitfires sit four points clear of the pack and remain a firm favourite to make February’s grand final bar a disaster.
