Barometer: Mooroopna’s Gemma Boyd continues to be one of Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s pre-eminent forces.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s competition is back in full swing after the festive hiatus and contenders are picking up where they left off ― at least, those who could play.
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Two games marked the league’s resumption, with both Saturday fixtures proceeding as planned.
However, the three Sunday games ― Rochester welcoming Katamatite, Bamawm-Lockington United at home to Echuca White and Echuca Green hosting Cooma ― were called off due to inclement weather.
Mooroopna Recreation Reserve hosted the weekend’s most high-profile affair as the competition resumed with round 10 action between the Cats and Nagambie.
At 7-0, Mooroopna was more than comfortable batting first on its home deck and prominent opener Gemma Boyd was again at the forefront for the unbeaten outfit.
Her 39 highlighted an excellent day with the willow for a Mooroopna side that allowed its first three hitters to retire not out from their 30 balls.
After posting 1-127, Shae and Evie Merrifield’s fortunes could not have more deeply contrasted those of the Cats’ top order, with both dismissed for ducks.
From there Nagambie’s chase never escaped second gear despite a thrilling top score of 45 from ever-reliable Lakers captain Kait Carracher.
The trouble for Carracher was her knock accounted for half the Lakers’ total score as the Cats did the job around her, eventually accounting for a 37-run win.
Just past the edge: Mooroopna's Ebony Sleeth watches a ball go by.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Dirty work: Nagambie's Amber Langham gets down to stop a ball in the outfield.
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Megan Fisher
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Little interest: Mooroopna's Ebony Sleeth plays a straight bat.
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Megan Fisher
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Keeper's end: Nagambie wicketkeeper Shae Merrifield fields a run out attempt.
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Megan Fisher
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Away it goes: Nagambie's Kelsey Abbott releases the ball.
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Megan Fisher
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It's all good: Nagambie's Alicia Nicol enjoys a light moment.
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Megan Fisher
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Run stopped: Nagambie's Evie Merrifield goes back to the bowler.
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Megan Fisher
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Fast and furious: Nagambie's Sandy Ezard catches up to a driven ball.
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Megan Fisher
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Always involved: Nagambie's Kait Carracher is busy in the field.
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Megan Fisher
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All going well: Mooroopna's Ebony Sleeth and Gemma Boyd meet in the middle.
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Megan Fisher
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Could be on: Nagambie's Emerson O'Brien has a look at the stumps.
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Megan Fisher
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With ease: Nagambie's Shelley Houston lobs the ball in.
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Megan Fisher
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Going deep: Mooroopna's Gemma Boyd has runs on her mind.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
They weren’t the only ones, either.
Kyabram’s bowlers overcame a Herculean effort from Shepparton United’s Mel Saunders to post a brilliant 14-run victory against the odds, setting the stage for their Haisman Shield allies to sweep the series.
In a riveting encounter the Redbacks batted first at home, only to fall at the mercy of Saunders in rapid succession as the United star scooped six poles in holding Kyabram to 88 all out.
Though the future appeared foreseeable, the Kyabram bowling attack had its own plans.
It wasn’t that the Redbacks got the jump to remove both United openers cheaply and go on with the job from there.
There was no dizzying spell of wicket after wicket. After all, Kyabram only laid claim to two in its 20 overs.
Though both United openers retired not out, the Redbacks prevented them from mustering any meaningful impact with the bat.
Breanna Baker finished a restrictive spell with figures of 1-12 from four overs as her side crucially moved to 5-3, remaining a part of high-end finals discussions.
