Euroa provided game opposition on its home deck Saturday, but posting its highest score to date wasn’t enough to avoid a two-wicket defeat and remain winless in 2023-24.
The Magpies elected to bat in the round’s early kick-off, but any fears of a quick affair were put to bed when Nicholas Hill came in at three and battled his way to a half-century.
THE GAME
Shepparton United 8-177 (R. Bari 43*, J. Callow 41, W. Jackson 3-44) d Euroa 7-176 (N. Hill 53, C. Paul 32*, R. Bari 3-27)
STAR PLAYER
Rehan Bari (Shepparton United): Did his job all the way around, establishing himself again as a premier offensive force and dazzling Euroa’s line-up in his three-wicket shift with the ball.
Rehan Bari starred for their adversaries, though, keeping the Euroa batsmen guessing all innings with two stumpings forming part of his 3-27.
That would not be the last of Euroa’s difficulties at Bari’s hands, either, once Shepparton United was given 177 to chase.
A forceful opening display from Jake Callow would eventually conclude via run-out, which sent Bari in at five to once again stake his claim as one of the competition’s most prolific wielders of the willow.
Bari played his role perfectly in seeing the run chase right through to the end, collecting an unbeaten 43 to guide United to its third win.
Sam Nash had nothing but praise for his star man.
“Rehan batted exceptionally at the weekend. He’s been probably the best batsman in the league and he showed why again,” Nash said.
“It was a good win and a game we said we really needed to win, but we probably made it a bit harder for ourselves than it had to be.”
The situation was, in fact, made murky and uncertain by Walter Jackson’s quick-fire double, removing Connor Green and Abe Lake in the space of three balls to leave United at 8-152.
Nash was admittedly somewhat daunted by the potential momentum swing.
“We definitely knew we had enough time and plenty of overs left to get the runs, but I was getting pretty nervous losing that couple of wickets,” Nash said.
“It’s always nice having Rehan at the crease when everybody’s going out to bat with him.
“He’s in really good touch and steered us home with everybody chipping in around him.”
Looking ahead to the first two-day fixtures of season 2023-24, Shepparton United will have it all to do against unbeaten Central Park-St Brendan’s in a local derby.
Meanwhile, Euroa’s effort at weekend might give the Magpies a proper chance in the next fortnight against an underperforming Kyabram.
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