Cricket Shepparton C-grade wrap ǀ Gallery ǀ Thriller at Murchison as Hoppers and Magpies share points

By James Kleeman

Jan 30, 2022

Follow through: Corey Meyer. Photo by Megan Fisher

It was runs galore in round 11 of the Jim McGregor Shield C-grade season, with the race to finals now well and truly on.

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A draw for the ages was played at Murchison Recreation Reserve, as two sides in lock-step of each other battled it out to cement their Cricket Shepparton finals spot.

After electing to bat on Murchison’s home deck, Euroa went to work, with opener John Brodie (54) leading the charge to chisel out a crafty half-century.

He was assisted by in-form bat Henry Jackson (49), who was unlucky to have his stumps rattled one run shy of his 50.

A strong sixth-wicket stand from skipper Dion Grant (54) and Robert Smith (36) ensured the Maggies would breach the 200 mark with ease; finishing with 214 on the board.

A supreme knock from Hoppers bat David Marsters had the home side sitting pretty in the chase, but consistent wickets from Jackson (2-24) and Nathan Butler (2-36) ensured it would go down to the wire.

The Hoppers would fall agonisingly short; all out for 214 with four balls remaining, the scorers inking what may be the match of the Jim McGregor Shield season.

Invergordon continued its unblemished campaign, backing up its Twenty20 grand final heroics on Wednesday afternoon with a dismantling of Pine Lodge.

Another hellish Hawks bowling display had the Lodgers limping to 127; Hayden Reynolds helping his side there with a brave 37.

It was a mostly routine chase for the Hawks, as Sean Arnold put the winning runs on the board with an unbeaten 44.

Kyabram secured a dominant victory over Tatura at Girgarre Recreation Reserve to tighten its hold on third, a classy half-ton from Mitchell Fitzgerald putting the home side in control.

The Redbacks’ heavy-hitter kept the scorers busy — walloping four maximums on the way to his 54 off as many balls.

Tom Devine was the pick of Tatura’s bowlers, collecting a trio of wickets to add to his tally.

The visitors mustered a measly 102 in reply, with the likes of Riley Morris (3-12), Jayden Fitzgerald (2-12) and Benjamin Campbell (2-12) applying the finishing touches to Kyabram’s win.

At Vibert Reserve, Shepparton, Karramomus clinched a 51-run win over Central Park-St Brendan’s thanks to a captain’s knock from Ashley Taylor (51) which propelled his side out of the Tigers’ reach.

Meanwhile, second-placed Mooroopna secured a routine eight-wicket win at home to Undera; Cats bowlers Reilly Young (3-7) and Daniel Emmi (3-14) blitzing the Lions’ batting card to have them skittled for 64.