Young’s hundred launches Echuca into grand final

Curtis Townrow was the first to fall, gone for 10 after captain Anthony McMahon found a hole in his defences.

The bails were flying again in the next McMahon over as James Grixti left the middle without score.

Kobyn James added only 1 to the total before he was snared by Matt Saunders and when Saunders claimed Brendan Moyle (22), the last of the top four, Echuca had only 36 on the board.

As is so often the case for Echuca, it finds a way out of precarious positions, and the fifth wicket partnership between Aidan Young and Anthony Dennis helped it do just that again.

Not only did the pair stem the flow of wickets, it also kept the run-rate at a respectable level as it built a 111-run stand.

Dennis (53) saluted his half-century, but didn’t make it much further, McMahon finally getting the breakthrough before Young also brought up the 50-run milestone.

Having just watched his partner sent packing shortly after reaching 50, Young made no such mistake, Easton Carlile (20) and Kale Edwards (22 not out) providing support as he went on with the job to secure a magnificent and, much-needed, century.

The hundred came from 178 balls, Young belting 13 boundaries, including two sixes.

He was gone the next ball as Rhys Drennan finally sent Echuca’s linchpin back to the pavilion, but the damage was done, and the recovery effort allowed the champion to post 270 by the end of the day's play.

McMahon’s three scalps earned him best figures for Moama, while Drennan, Saunders, and Kirk Teasdale grabbed two wickets each.

Moama would have been ruing its missed opportunities overnight as Echuca fought its way back into the game from a tough position, and that misery was compounded on Sunday as the Mowers also made a sluggish start to their batting innings.

After a cagey start, that yielded just one run, Moama was 1-1 after losing Fraser Buchanan in the third over.

Archie Teasdale and Michael Hill returned the visitor to a respectable position with a 50-run partnership before Teasdale fell victim to Charlie Hinks.

Captain McMahon came and went without score, a huge boon for Echuca, bringing Matt Saunders to the crease to partner Hill.

Hill looked in dangerous form, but was left four runs short of his half-century after Nathan Elliott struck for Echuca.

Saunders built a patient innings, but was lacking for partners as the game slowly slipped beyond Moama’s grasp.

Bringing up his half-century, Saunders was eventually gone for 62, captain Simon Maddox taking the critical wicket.

By this time, the entire middle order had come and gone, with Moama nine down while still 113 in arrears.

Simon Porter (19) and Mitchell Stephens (7 not out) staged a brief but spirited fightback for the final wicket, but there was far too much left to do, Porter the last man to go off the bowling of Curtis Townrow.

All six used bowlers for Echuca made a breakthrough, led by Charlie Hinsk (3-25) and Simon Maddox (2-43).

Echuca will take on Rochester for the trophy this weekend after Rochy got past Kyabram Fire Brigade by 91 runs.