Tatura has claimed first honours in senior competition this season.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The first domino has fallen in Cricket Shepparton’s 2024-25 senior competitions.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
After the dates and times were switched on more than one occasion for both local T20 finals, the Lower-grade decider ushered in a huge week for non-league action at Tatura’s Howley Oval Sunday.
Tatura, which had posted the highest individual score of the tournament in the first round against Shepparton Youth Club United, was required to chase for the first time in hosting Katandra.
Katandra's Dillon Shelley sets up his field.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 2 of 8
Katandra's Wade Schifferle picks up a full head of steam.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 3 of 8
Tatura's Tyson Webb was lauded by his skipper as one of the tournament's great stories.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 4 of 8
Tatura's Nathan Baldwin and Tyson Webb had it all in their hands.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 5 of 8
Tatura's Nathan Baldwin fired at will with nine boundaries.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 6 of 8
Katandra keeper Brad Murray sets and steadies.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 7 of 8
Katandra's David Marsters rues what could have been in the field.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Image 8 of 8
Tatura's Nathan Baldwin mashed his way to the player of the match award.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Eagles took solid initiative out of the gates despite the early departure of opener Clayton Groves as Harpreet Singh Gill burst into life with a rapid-fire 27.
David Marsters and Shaun Candy produced a potent 41-run stand at a quick clip to have Katandra sitting pretty through the middle overs, but Tatura skipper Lachlan Thurston would soon produce the goods to remove both as the host put the clamps on.
Thurston led the line for a constrictive bowling attack with three poles, but the Eagles were able to propel themselves to a defendable 8-127 through a late display of power from Bradley Murray (23 not out).
Nathan Baldwin and Brandan Reilly set about steering the chase off the top and, while the latter would only see 10 deliveries, the former would put large chunks of the innings on his back.
Elliott Bailey’s power-driving cameo at first drop would give rise to the unshakeable partnership that took this game from evenly poised to unlosable for the home side as Tyson Webb provided an anchor for Baldwin’s fireworks show.
The third-wicket stand carried over more than 80 runs and ultimately brought silverware to the blue and red, the eight-wicket win secured with more than three overs in hand.
Baldwin carried the bat with an unbeaten 62 that featured six fours and three sixes, deservingly recognised post-match as the Player of the Final.
Captain Thurston beamed at his charges after soaking in the victory.
“The first over of our bowling innings was not ideal, but Tyson (Webb), Jimmy (Collett) and myself bowling some tight middle overs got us back in the game,” Thurston said.
“I said that if we held them to 130 we were in the game and we had a batting line-up to do it.
“I’m very proud of them, especially Tyson as one of our up-and-coming under-16s. To be one of the top run scorers as a 15-year-old was excellent.
“The whole team has bundled well and it’s good to see some success coming through.”
It’s a resurgent Tatura at all levels and this trophy only reinforces the good feelings coming from out west.
“We came from heartbreak last year in the one-day final, but the club recruited well with strong numbers in all three grades,” Thurston said.
“I’m very proud of our boys and how far we’ve come.
“It’s always a pleasure to watch Nathan bat as well. He said he wasn’t seeing them well, but from the balcony, it was probably the best innings I’ve seen him play.”
