Barooga soars into MVCA festive break on a high thanks to Will Sharp’s heroics

By Gabriel Garcia

Dec 19, 2023

Star bowler: Kepler Lukies was one of Katmatite’s best round nine bowlers. Photo by Bransen Gibson

Barooga has entered the Murray Valley Cricket Association mid-season break on a high thanks to an incredible bowling display from quick Will Sharp.

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The opening bowler ripped through Berrigan’s batting order at the weekend with pure venom to finish with impressive figures of 7-50 from 19 overs.

Sharp’s damaging opening spell saw the Saints restricted to 97 runs in reply to the Hawks’ day one total of 7-253.

The dominant performance was capped off by a special effort from captain Kale Watkins who enjoyed a strong match.

Watkins contributed 2-12 off nine overs after he had walloped 83 runs on day one of the round nine contest.

The Hawks’ import Ben Beaumont was prolific with the bat and notched 57 runs. It takes his season tally with the willow beyond 400 runs.

Barooga sits third on the A-grade ladder, with a round 10 clash against fierce rival Cobram the match-of-the-round when the MVCA returns on January 6.

Elsewhere, Nathalia’s hunt for an outright win was unsuccessful in its clash against Katamatite.

Nathalia was bowled out for 246 in its first innings on day one of its round nine fixture, and in reply, Katamatite could only manage 106.

Nathalia sent the Tigers back out to bat for the second innings with a total of 140 needed to escape an outright defeat.

The Boosey Creek Tigers were able to negate Nathalia’s bowlers and reached 170 in their second dig.

Dylan Cunningham, who made 81 runs, was Nathalia’s best performer with the bat. before being taken out by fielder Brandon Nicholls and bowler Kepler Lukies.

Nathalia’s next best batter was top order talent Sam Boyd, who made 78 runs.

With two wickets each, Scotty Morris and Clancy Congues were Nathalia’s best bowlers.

Katamatite’s best batters were Nicholls and Sam Gordan, who made 17 runs each, while Mark Haberfield and Lukies were Katamatite’s best bowlers with three wickets each.

In the second innings, Katamatite’s Andrew Erickson was his team’s best performer.

Erickson chalked up 35 runs before he was dismissed by Brenton Campbell.

Meanwhile, Liam Evans was the pick of the Nathalia bowlers in the second innings with figures of 5-62.

Nathalia sits unbeaten and on top of the MVCA ladder, while Cobram sits second with six wins and three losses, followed by Barooga.