Yarrawonga Mulwala A grade have set themselves up in the box seat to clinch the last spot in the WDCA upcoming finals after posting 256 runs on the first day of their two day clash with City Colts at Barr Reserve on Saturday.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Winning the toss, the Lakers had no hesitation in batting first on what looked like a good deck.
Lakers opener Ben Welsh found form at the top, posting 61 runs off 149 deliveries in what was a patient knock.
Coming in at number three, Matt Knight belted the City Colts’ bowlers all over the park for a quick fire 41, while Brock McCabe continued his rich run of form with another 41 runs from 87 balls.
Zach Moore came and went for 10, bringing in Adam Dodd and Kyle Archibald who both kept the scoreboard ticking over, hitting 37 and 25 respectively.
Matt McCabe hit the second ball of his innings for six, and ended up with a very handy 21* from 27 balls at the tail end.
The Lakers will look to take quick wickets next week and solidify their spot in the finals.
Lakers claim CMCU Cup
What a match! Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers Cricket Club came out on top in a thrilling contest against Barooga Cricket Club.
Huge congratulations to the team on their victory!
A special shoutout to Nehal Tahir, who was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance on the field!
It was an amazing display of sportsmanship all around.
A reserve dominate Ovens Valley at home
A greenish wicket greeted the 2 sides at Vic Park on Saturday and captain Hill lost an important toss, the Lakers getting to have a bowl first.
Oven’s openers started patiently, with Taylor bowling sharply with the use of a tail wind, and Sam Lidgerwood courageously pushing into the breeze and tying the batters down. Before long the pressure got too much as Lidgerwood sent both openers back to the sheds.
The new strike bowler Smart was introduced, and he resembled Merv Hughes bustling in bowling an intimidating length, as he hurried the batters up with some short stuff and had 3 caught from miscued pull shots.
After Smart ran out of puff after his 6 overs, TJ Docking came into the attack to bowl in tandem with Ollie Connell.
The pairs relentless line and length was too much for ovens, as TJ snuck a couple past the bat, and Connell was rewarded with a late pole.
The highlight of the bowling innings was a misfield from TJ which turned into a sharp pick up from the young man to throw the stumps down and the opposition captain was caught short. Never run on a misfield!
With 77 to chase down, Smart cashed in on some more early innings luck after he was dropped second ball.
He made a classy 42 including a huge six which was inches away from killing a club stalwart who was putting a quaddy on whilst sitting under the tree.
Ollie Cope was riding shotgun with Smart and they were ticking the small total off with ease, until Cope misjudged one, clean bowled for 12.
Fresh from his MOM award in the mid-week T20, Pakistani import Nehal Tahir was promoted to number 3, and as the heavens looked threatening he and Smart looked to knock off the total in a hurry.
Smart, after giving some catching practise earlier, was finally caught out for 42. Lidgerwood came in to safely guide the Lakers home.
Captain Hill wasn’t satisfied, and decided to bat on for a while, with Thorpe and Taylor both not out when the heavens opened and the game coming to a conclusion.
Next week we host the Rovers in a top of the table clash.
B Grade get lucky
Greta 10/110 def by Yarrawonga Mulwala 9/142.
B Grade travelled to Greta this week and were lucky enough to get the points thanks largely to a Lach Phillips power hitting master class.
After being sent into bat, the Lakers got away to a solid start until the returning Jack Connell tried a pull shot that bowled him for 2.
Keely and Gillies then steadied the ship getting the score to 29 before the ship ran a ground losing 5 wickets for 3 runs to be 6-32 with some very questionable shots being attempted after 15 overs.
This brought Lach Phillips and the competitions leading bowler in Hunter Frauenfelder to the crease and together they built a fantastic partnership slowly building until Phillips went full beast mode against Greta’s leading wicket taker, smashing him out of the attack with 5 massive 6’s in his 3 overs.
Phillips eventually fell for 57 then House and Frauenfelder continued the assault with Hunter scoring an excellent 31 and House 15 eventually finishing 9-142.
Greta started their chase well and looked in the box seat at 2-92 after 24 overs with House and Phillips getting 1 wicket each.
Young heart throb Will Murphy bowled well without luck but it was the introduction of co-captain Hudson Gillies that changed the game.
He recovered the dangerous Allen for a run a ball 65 then proceeded to take wickets at will with his assortment of left arm spin mixing his line and length constantly so the batsman never knew what was coming next claiming 4-13 from 3 overs.
Hunter and House chipped in for 2 wickets each and Greta had lost 8-18 to be all out for 110.
The team will need a greater more even contribution if they want to win a final.
Four seasons in one day: Lakers triumph despite rain
Yarrawonga Mulwala 6/130 def Greta Blue 8/124.
It was a classic case of “Melbourne weather bingo” as the C Grade game was delayed at drinks due to rain, proving once again that cricket is just an outdoor waiting game disguised as a sport.
‘Bowling Pops’ (Brear) won the toss and actually made a great decision - sending Greta in to bat.
Fresh off a wellness retreat (presumably now more spiritually aligned with his off stump), ‘Young Gun’ (Hudson) took the new pill alongside 2 First Names (Michael).
The duo had the Greta side reeling at 13 after the first 8 overs.
First change saw ‘House Chores’ (Hawking) looping the ball around like he had it on a yo-yo.
‘Pink Bike’ (Leeburn) was brilliant up to the stumps, proving that keeping isn’t just standing around and yelling “bowler’s name!” every delivery.
‘Chrome Dome’ (Pickering) beat the bat so often the Greta players started swinging at shadows.
The father-son duo Gove and Gove came on, giving the speedsters a well-earned breather.
Unfortunately, the Greta batters took a liking to their spinners playing some nice shots. ‘House Chores’ took three catches, proving he’s much better at holding onto cricket balls than a dust wand.
‘Pops’, clearly rattled by his own history of drops, somehow managed to cling onto a catch from a rank full toss off ‘Chrome Dome’, dismissing the dangerous O’Bryan—who was probably as confused as everyone else that he got out to that.
‘Chrome Dome’ 3/29, ‘House Chores’ 3/25 and ‘2 First Names’ 1/7 off 7 overs were the pick of the bowlers.
Just as the Lakers were about to go in, the CFA sirens started blaring.
But this time, the only fire that needed putting out was ‘House Chores’ chafing’, which, by all accounts, was approaching emergency levels.
‘Slug’ (Hargreaves) and ‘Blocka’ (Wilson) got things rolling, putting on 31 before ‘Blocka’ (21) decided to test the arm of the outfield.
Unfortunately, he fell just inches short of the crease.
Slug (13) had pad troubles early on. After finally fixing them, he walked back out… only to promptly nick one to the keeper.
Possibly the shortest-lived equipment upgrade in cricket history.
‘House Chores’ and ‘Number Cruncher’ (Vagg) looked in control until Cyclone Helen interrupted play at drinks.
This led to ‘Pops’ frantically flipping through the rulebook while an industrial blower was rolled out to dry the pitch—because if there’s one thing C Grade cricket deserves, it’s serious weather intervention technology.
After a 25-minute delay (and a 10-over reduction), ‘House Chores’ and ‘Number Cruncher’ went back to work, playing some shots not usually seen at this level—possibly because they were actual cricket shots.
‘House Chores’ (32) tried to push the score along but got a straight one and was bowled, proving once again that the best way to get him out is to bowl at the stumps.
Then came the parade of batting calamities: • ‘Chrome Dome’ (5) smacked one straight to point.
• ‘Pink Bike’ (golden duck) was given out LBW so fast it was reminiscent of the time he got knocked out riding his pink bike.
• ‘2 First Names’ (4) attempted a ramp shot but forgot the key ingredient: not hitting it straight to a fielder.
Thankfully, amidst all this madness, Vagg played a beautiful knock of 42 to steer the Lakers home for a solid win at home.
8/124 35 overs v 6/130 20 overs.
Next week, the Lakers take on the Gorillas at Vic Park 2.
Hopefully, the weather, running between wickets, and inner-thigh friction are all more cooperative.
Under 14 Bulls start well
Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls 8/159 v Greta White (YTB)
The Bulls side travelled to Greta for the start of the two day game.
Greta won the toss and elected to bowl on the freshly cut green pitch.
Captain Darcy Hargraeves opened the batting with Jackson Smith, who was out early due to some tight bowling from the Greta side.
Darcy batted with patience and power when the loose ball was there to hit, leading from the front scoring 58 not out.
Levi Purtle came up the list and batted at no 3, putting on a nice partnership with Darcy. Purtle out for 19.
Darcy was hanging around and hitting boundaries at ease during his innings hitting seven fours and one almighty six, to the spectators delight.
The Bulls were asked to bat the 40 overs out so that they could compile a score they could defend next week.
Mitch Smith (20) came in and hit the ball hard along with Finn Wood (10) and up and coming fast bowler Jack Browning who made 15 which was his highest score, this was a nice innings from the tail ender even ramping a ball straight past the wicket keeper for four.
The Bulls posted a score of 159 which will see a very close game against a Greta side with some handy batters.
Under 12 Rams go down to ladder leaders
Benalla Bushrangers Blue 3/162 def Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 6/100.
The Rams travelled to Benalla to take on the ladder leaders in the final home and away round of the season.
The Bushrangers won the toss and sent the Rams into bat first. Hugo Bott and Murphy Doyle got the team off to a steady start before Doyle and then Kennedy departed in quick succession.
Lachie Brown joined Bott and they both started to play some fine shots, before retiring. Layken Saunders was in attacking form and Ned O’Brien (9 not out) arrived at the crease and capitalised on the loose deliveries from the Bushrangers bowlers to push the score along, before retiring as well.
George Hill and Paddy Doyle looked comfortable at the crease before being dismissed. Bott returned to the crease, before departing for 13.
Brown (24 off 23) and Saunders (32 not out off 33) returned to the crease, opening their shoulders to help the rams reach a well compiled 100 off their 20 overs.
With a decent score on the board, the Rams were aware that they would still have to bowl and field well to defend their total.
The Bushrangers got off to a flying start and from there they didn’t slow down. The Rams bowlers found it difficult to consistently hit the right areas to put the opposition under pressure.
The ever-improving Paddy Doyle (2 for 17) managed to get the first breakthrough and struck again later in the over, with George Kennedy holding onto a fine catch.
Layken Sauders rounded out a nice match with a wicket himself.
The Bushrangers finished their innings with 3/162 on the board.
The Rams will now turn their attention to the finals, taking on hometown rivals, the Lakers next Saturday.
Under 12 Lakers defeat Maggies for a 5th time
Thursday night saw the young Lakers generously travel to the Wangaratta High School for a make-up game with Maggies Black after they couldn’t rally a side up straight after Xmas.
The aim was to get the W and get the hell out of there. The Lakers won the toss and decided to bat first on a bouncy wicket.
The bounce had Lakers in early trouble losing 3 quick wickets, before Darcy O’Dwyer and Isaac McLarty steadied the ship.
Darcy batted very sensibly hitting the ball along the ground for a well-made 8 off his 15 balls.
Isaac was ruthless, continuing his magnificent season, he retired after his 15 balls, and then came back to the crease to pummel the bowling to all parts.
He finished not out on 60, with 6 fours and 3 huge sixes.
Ollie McDonald 4*, Will Cruikshank 7* and Rosie Lidgerwood 3* all batted well and finished retired not out.
The Lakers total of 7/105 was very competitive.
With the ball, the Lakers were tight without claiming many wickets.
Kirsty Plevnik and Darcy O’Dwyer claimed the only 2, courtesy of some great catching by Finn McDonald and Billy Vagg.
Billy bowled his leg spinners really well without luck.
The Lakers restricted the Maggies to 2/76 from their 20 overs getting the job done and climbing to second on the ladder in the process.
Under 12 Lakers close out the season with comprehensive win
Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers 6/125 def Delatite Gold 6/67.
The last home and away game against bottom side Delatite in Benalla was a good chance for practise leading into the finals.
With the top 4 positions already locked in, a dead rubber was in place and the Lakers decided to mix it up a bit.
Kirsty Plevnik and Billy Vagg took the reins as skipper, and after Delatite won the toss the Lakers were batting first again.
Rory Buerckner opened the batting for the first time alongside Billy and the new skipper made sure he led the way with 14 retired.
Rory also retired and then came back in later to make his highest score of 7, unfortunately being bowled on the last ball of the innings.
Finn McDonald and Will Cruikshank batted solidly again to retire on 7 and 3, and after generously batting down the order, the 2 normal skippers of Eamon Pickering and Isaac McLarty came in to round the innings out.
Both retired on 19 and 31 respectively.
Isaac amazingly has only been out 1 time for the year for the Lakers and has a batting average of 401!
It was the Lakers turn to bowl, and after Blake Miller bowled a tidy first over Isaac took the ball.
He needed 1 wicket to tie for the leading wicket taker for the comp for the year, and second ball he bowled he claimed a return catch to lock in the trophy.
However not satisfied with that, Blake caught a sharp chance to have Isaac the outright winner.
Finn McDonald then chimed in with a wicket and a run out, and Will Cruikshank bowled with great control to claim 2 more scalps.
The Lakers restricting the young Delatite side to 6/67.
Next week, in a great sign for the future of the club, the Lakers play another of the Yarrawonga teams in the Rams in a knock out final.
These two teams have not met this season, so there will be plenty of interest in the result. Incredibly the other Yarra side the Bulls also made the top four, and hopefully can get over a Benalla side to make it an all Yarrawonga grand final.
Good luck to all teams.
Yarrawonga Chronicle