The Yarrawonga Lakers A Grade side produced a composed and disciplined performance to chase down 197 against the Magpies at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday, securing a fine victory in blustery conditions.
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After losing the toss and being sent into the field, the Lakers got off to a dream start thanks to opening bowler Matt McCabe, who had the ball swinging around corners early. McCabe struck the first blow, trapping the dangerous Matheson LBW after the batter shouldered arms.’
With the Magpies finding some rhythm against the quicker bowlers, the Lakers adjusted smartly, turning to spin for the bulk of the innings. The move paid off handsomely.
From a strong position at 2/112 halfway through their innings, the Magpies were reeled back in by the Lakers spin attack.
Ben Welsh (2/41), TJ Docking (3/14), Brock McCabe, and Devlin Webb all bowled with great control, executing the team plan of eliminating the boundary ball superbly.
Gus Heslin finished the innings off in style, cleaning up the tail to claim three wickets and restrict the Magpies to 197.
With a fast outfield and hard wicket, the Lakers knew that building partnerships would be key to chasing down the target.
The innings started shakily with Reid Clarke falling early, but Fraser Smart and Ben Welsh quickly put the Magpies on the back foot.
The pair combined for a blistering 90-run stand, punishing anything loose and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Welsh’s well-compiled 31 set the tone, while Smart continued his superb innings, crafting a match-winning 81 from 87 deliveries, featuring nine fours and two sixes.
After Smart’s dismissal with 60 runs still required, Zac Fraser joined Brock McCabe, and the pair ensured there were no late jitters.
Fraser played a crucial hand, striking a fluent 44 from just 38 balls, while McCabe’s composed support at the other end guided the Lakers home.
The partnership sealed the deal as Yarrawonga cruised to victory, finishing six wickets down.
A Res claim easy win
Yarrawonga Mulwala 2/57 def Benalla Bushrangers 10/56.
Coming off a loss last week, the A Res Lakers were eager to get back on the winners list against Benalla at home.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, opening bowlers Xavier Mitchell and Andrew Dishot navigated the gale force winds to bowl tight lines and lengths and pick up early wickets.
Jack Hudson and Ollie Connell were the pick of the bowlers taking 3/17 and 4/7 respectively.
Brendan Hill and William Murphy also chipped in with some handy overs and following a stellar run out by John Taylor to finish the innings. The Lakers had bowled out Benalla for a measly 56.
After a delicious arvo tea, opening pair Alex Kealy and Darcy Hargreaves strolled out to the middle to begin the chase.
The 20 extras combined with Alex Kealy’s gritty 16 and contributions from Darcy Hargreaves, Ollie Cope and Ethan Thorpe, the Lakers chased down the total in just 11 overs.
With the Ferrari back in action the A Res boys take on the Wang Maggies away, who beat the boys easily a fortnight ago.
B Grade had the bye
C Grade Lakers avoid the lock-up
Beechworth Wanderers 9/125 def by Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/136
The C Grade boys were a little nervous heading to Mayday Hills — not because of the opposition, but because a few feared they might get locked up if they hung around too long.
With Parker “shining” from 1400km away, his fill-in decided to do it all — opening the batting, bowling eight straight, then throwing the gloves on.
Talk about covering all bases.
Skipper Gus Browning won the toss and chose to bat — clearly trusting his boys to make runs before the Beechworth authorities caught wind of them.
The two-first-names father-son combo of Jamie and Kade got things rolling.
Jamie showed test-match patience with five from 20, while Kade was in more of a T20 mood with his five from 15.
Third in the “two-first-names” club, Tom Taylor, kept things respectable with 19.
Debutant Ash Thieseen came and went quicker than a dodgy Indian vindaloo, while ‘Meat Eater’ Knight showed great restraint for 19 before the call of the wild proved too strong — last seen spotlighting deer in the Beechworth hills.
‘Tatts’ Bozzola reminded everyone how it’s done with a classy 31 before the medics were called to hook him up to oxygen.
Big Richo added a solid 10, Chrome Dome Pickering (aka Parker’s replacement) chipped in with 27, and the Browning–Pickering juniors each contributed a speedy two.
Captain Gus, meanwhile, was solid as ever with 0 runs from 0 balls — the perfect stat line for a thinking skipper.
Lakers finished with a “very defendable” 136.
With the ball, the Lakers were fired up. Junior two-first-names Kade struck early with 2/23, and Chrome Dome Pickering channelled his inner Parker with 2/16.
Thieseen went for 0/28 — a true victim of daylight robbery, with figures straight out of the Kelly Gang Jerilderie Bank job.
‘Meat Eater’ Knight bowled like a dream (and a deer stalker) for 1/22, before Skipper Gus decided he’d had enough of watching and ripped through the middle order with 3/12 off eight tight overs — stopping the rot and sealing the deal.
Young Pickering cleaned up nicely at the end with 1/9.
A cracking fielding effort saw the Lakers claim their first win of the season, with the Bushrangers falling 11 runs short at 9/125.
The boys celebrated accordingly — relieved to escape Mayday Hills both with the win and their freedom intact.
Under 16s ~ two day
Wangaratta Magpies 9/240 v Yarrawonga Mulwala – yet to bat.
Under 14 Bulls ~ two day
Benalla Bushrangers Red 8/181 v Yarrawonga Mulwala – yet to bat.
Under 14 Rams ~ two day
Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams – yet to bat v Benalla Bushrangers Blue 8/150.
Under 12s grudge match goes down to the wire
Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls 6/82 def by Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 6/94.
The Bulls hosted the Rams in a mate vs mate bragging rights game.
Bulls winning the toss sent in the Rams with solid contributions from Ned O’Brien, Farley Simmons and Bobby Best with the bat.
Ball in hand for the Bulls and Myles Cowan and Finn McDonald were the pick of the bowlers. Rams finishing 6/ 94.
With the swapping of innings Ted Hammon and Charlie Kennedy got the Rams off to a flyer with early wickets.
Rory Buerkener, Jack Hawking and Finn McDonald went about a rescue mission with the bat but just came up short.
Rams prevailing by 12 runs.
A great spectacle showcasing the local talent from the Yarrawonga Cricket Club.
Hoppers claim successive victories
Jerilderie Demons 10/70 def by Tungamah 10/90.
Tungamah cricketers have now won successive matches in a huge upset at Jerilderie.
Tungamah’s plans of batting first fell into a little chaos with a wicket from the very first ball.
From that point on, successive batsmen dug in and made the use of sound defence. Jayden Arnold displayed some sparkling form in a very good knock of 20.
Arnold is very courageous and takes some shifting from the crease.
Lucas Tonna came and stayed for quite a while in making 13, while the classy all-round skills of Ben Beaton once again came to the fore with a very well made 25.
Beaton played well straight, but wasn’t afraid to punish anything short.
A score of 90 was handy but needed good bowling to back it up.
Considering the number of players missing, this wasn’t a bad effort, and it was good to see the Lidgerwood’s back at Tungamah.
Both Josh and Sam are classy cricketers and with Trav Hayes lending a hand, it fired up, taking four which was indicative of the renewed interest in cricket in Tungamah.
Nobody really expected to see what was to happen, with Tyler Begnone tearing out the heart of the upper order in a display of 4/12, while up the other end, Ben Beaton was magnificent in taking 4/14.
Beaton is very accurate but causes some flutters when he uses his pace to make the ball bounce about.
Jerilderie recovered partly from 8/26, but were eventually all out for 70 when the Lidgerwoods made an impact.
A very serious approach to practice has lifted the side and we are seeing improvement every week.
Next week the Hoppers take on the powerful Nathalia team and some big names are in good form.