Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Kaine Herbert top scored for the Flames with a knock of 35 through the middle order against Echuca.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Echuca is chasing first innings points after dismissing Kyabram Fire Brigade on day one of their McMahon Shield round 13 fixture.
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In scorching conditions at Victoria Park, the host elected to send Fire Brigade in after winning the toss.
The Flames are in a desperate position in their season, with a loss all but ending their finals hopes, and the opening duo of Miller Griffiths (20) and Tim Nelson (24) did their part in getting Fire Brigade off to a strong start.
The two put on a 33-run partnership before Bohden Learmonth (20) joined Nelson in the middle to add another 38, ticking the Flames along to 71.
Learmonth’s dismissal, holing out to mid-on, sparked a run of wickets, with Nelson following soon after.
Cohan Hooper thinks better of a quick single.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
Brett Andison (nine) and Cohan Hooper (nine) put in a shift but were removed in the same Kale Edwards over, reducing Fire Brigade to 5-92.
Kaine Herbert looked to get the scoreboard moving upon his arrival, striking at faster than a run a ball, and was joined by first Shannon Fleming (20) and then captain Robert Salter.
An ill-advised attempted two signalled the end of Herbert’s knock on 35 and put Echuca well into the bowlers.
From 7-151, Fire Brigade was able to make some impact with the tail, Salter adding 11 and Shaun Doolan becoming the fourth batter to make exactly 20 runs, but the Flames’ fire eventually burned out for 186.
Along with his two-wicket over, Edwards also had the first wicket of the day, finishing with a team best 3-40, while six others had one wicket each.
As Fire Brigade wasn’t able to complete its allocated 80 overs, there were still 12 left in the day for Echuca to begin its run chase.
Echuca players thought they heard a nick.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
While Brendan Moyle looked to get going early, scoring seven off the first three balls, his partner James Grixti wasn’t so fortunate, gone in the opening over to the bowling of Salter.
With no real milestone in sight before stumps, Moyle and new batsman Charlie Hinks batted the rest of the 12 overs, the scoring rate dropping off significantly as the end of play approached.
After surviving 31 balls, disaster struck for Hinks (six) in what would be the final ball of the day, trapped in front by Jackson Barnett who sent his side home on a high.
Play will resume next Saturday with Echuca on 2-26, Moyle (20 not out) to be joined by a new batsman at the resumption of play.
Meanwhile, Rochester already locked down first innings points against Moama on day one after chasing down the Mowers’ total of 104 for the loss of five wickets.
Adam Ward (5-32) and Sean Williams (4-31) razed Moama’s order as only Matt Saunders made it past 20, and on the chase, Rochester gun Dylan Cuttriss starred with 44 off 47 balls as the Tigers sit at 5-116 after 25 overs.
In the round’s other game, Tongala is only a few lusty blows from chasing down Leitchville-Gunbower’s set target with relative ease.
Adam Nunn’s 5-23 helped peg back the combine for just 90, and at 6-78, the Blues should grab first innings points quick smart when play resumes on Saturday.
