Sport
GMC | Echuca dominates Cooma and jumps into top spot
A Goulburn Murray Cricket powerhouse has reclaimed top spot on the ladder following round five matches.
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Echuca has cruised to a sensational outright win over Cooma, claiming 16 wickets on the final day of their two-day clash.
Having been bowled out for 205 on the first day of play, the reigning premier managed to reduce Cooma to 4-28 by stumps, with Matthew Darvill and Cooper Fawcett resuming the visitor’s innings on Saturday.
But they did not remain at the crease for long, as Echuca’s Kale Edwards (3-20) and Matthew Hinks (3-15) made light work of the lower order, skittling Cooma for 51 as their side claimed first innings points and a 154-run lead ahead of the second dig.
Cooma was able to avoid an embarrassing innings defeat, however, creeping to 176 before it was bowled out to take a marginal 22-run lead.
As expected, Echuca was able to wrap up a comfortable win, chasing down the 23 required for victory in 5.4 overs, although losing two wickets in the process.
Echuca captain Simon Maddox was pleased with the result, praising the group for its ability to find a way to win despite not being at full strength.
“It was good, it was probably better than it looks on paper,” Maddox said.
“We were a couple of players short, Curtis Townrow was crook, so he was unavailable to play, and Rylea Jones was out, he’s probably our leading wicket-taker.
“We had a couple of sub fielders and it was good because we were already a bit stretched right before the first ball.
“The boys bowled well, fielded well, it was a hot day and everything went according to plan I guess.”
Despite being on top of the ladder at the end of round five, Maddox believes the side still has plenty of room for improvement as it continues to build into the season.
“I still think we’ve got a couple of gears we can go up to tell you the truth, there’s a few things we need to work on if we’re going to be the side to beat,” he said.
“Moama are playing good cricket, South are playing good cricket, there’s a couple of good sides there, and Lockington on their day, they can post a really big score.
“Grand finals aren’t won now, there’s still a long way to go, but there’s a few things we can definitely still work on.
“I’d say the good thing is the boys are enjoying their cricket, we’re winning and we’ve still got a couple of things we need to work on.”
Kobyn James’ 118 on day one formed the foundation for Echuca’s win, with the youngster stepping in to open in Townrow’s absence, which gives Maddox plenty to think about in terms of the batting order.
Elswehere, a magical Michael Hill hat-trick headlined Moama’s 12-run win over Nondies-Cohuna at the weekend, extending its winning streak to five.
Hill struck three times in the 52nd over, dismissing Nondies import Archie Sussex for 59 before knocking over Sam O’Shea’s stumps on the third delivery.
The Moama recruit made no mistake for the third wicket, tearing through Peter Taylor’s defences to confirm the hat-trick at Cohuna Reserve.
Hill ended with figures of 4-27 off 18 overs, playing the leading role in Moama’s defence of its first-innings total of 254.
A much-improved second innings performance from Rochester has saved the side from outright defeat at the hands of Kyabram Fire Brigade at Windridge Oval.
The match resumed with the Flames 2-24 in their second innings, having secured first innings points on day one after posting a total of 139 and bowling Rochester out for 77.
With the top scorers from the first innings in Miller Griffiths and Kaine Herbert at the crease, Rochester required an early breakthrough, and that is exactly what it got.
Myles Wade ensured Rochester remained in the contest, claiming an excellent 5-25 to help his side bowl Ky out for 130.
It meant that 163 was required for Rochester to win, which it set about doing, albeit with a shaky start.
Rochester eventually finished 6-116, with the day’s play coming to an end before either side could manage to claim the outright win.
Meanwhile, Asantha Singappuli and Shaun Haffenden were clinical with the ball to guide Echuca South to its fourth win of the season at the weekend.
Singappuli nabbed five wickets and Shaun Haffenden three to have Tongala dismissed for 89 on day two of the round five clash, although a determined Blues batting line-up managed to hang around for 67 overs.
Tongala was forced to follow-on, but finished the second innings 3-47.
Lastly, Bamawm-Lockington United’s mammoth first innings total has ensured it claimed points in its two-day clash against Leitchville-Gunbower.
Having declared at 6-330 following a ridiculous 172-run knock from captain Regis Chakabva, BLU sent L-G in to bat for 16 overs at the end of day one, with the home side reaching stumps unscathed at 0-25.
Declan Pearse dazzled with 5-15 as BLU bowled L-G out for 138, still 192 runs shy of the first-up total set by the visitor.
In the second innings dig, L-G finished the day’s play on 3-84 and denied BLU an outright win.