Following last week’s first innings win on day 1 against Benalla, the A-grade team began their warmup at the Gardens Oval under the radiant sun for another promising Saturday afternoon.
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The wicket mirrored the previous encounter—hard and fast—while the outfield retained its lightning pace.
Starting the day at 5/175, a lead of 70 runs, Captain Kyle Archibald chose to prolong the innings, opting for an additional 10 overs of batting before setting his sights on an outright victory.
Debutant Adam Dodd, already in fine form with 26 not out, returned to the crease alongside Ben McDonald at 3 not out. The duo settled in before Dodd unleashed a confident attack, accumulating boundaries.
McDonald looked to follow suit before he was caught at mid-wicket for 17. Dodd continued his attack and reached 50 runs while Archibald declared – just over 100 runs ahead on first innings scores.
In yet another display of generational batting prowess, father-son duo Adam and Byron Dodd made significant contributions for the club.
Adam finished unbeaten on 50, striking 8 fours in 68 deliveries. Meanwhile, in the under 12s, Byron retired at 35 not out, boasting an average of over 100 across his five innings this season which earned him a call up to the A reserve team in round 3.
With an outright victory in sight, Captain Archibald rallied the troops, setting a challenge to secure 10 wickets from 60 overs.
Viral sensation and Play Cricket’s favourite content creator Jim Irvine led the attack from the rocket-ship playground end while McMillan also sent down his accurate left arm seamers from the tennis court end.
Irvine struck early, removing the dangerous Chohan for 9 runs and Benalla’s number three batsman for a duck. Benalla found themselves at 2/22 after 5 overs.
The Lakers’ bowling attack continued to grind, with McMillan claiming a caught and bowled, and Jobe Fraser introducing his leggies into the mix.
Brothers Matt and Brock McCabe emerged as the heroes, sharing six wickets in the innings—four to Brock and two to Matt.
Matt’s skill in angling at the stumps and Brock’s patience and accuracy proved pivotal. Despite Benalla’s resilience, they found themselves at 8/67.
However, their number 8 batsman held firm, scratching out an unbeaten 28 to see out Irvine’s second spell.
Brock took the final two wickets to close Benalla’s second innings 10/102 after 47 overs. The Lakers securing their outright victory without needing to bat again.
In the field, Irvine showcased his prowess with a textbook first slip catch and a fast-reacting grab at short cover.
Jobe Fraser was electric, displaying hunger in the field and agility under the helmet at short leg.
Reid Clarke’s tidy work behind the stumps and Zach Moore’s energy in the field contributed to the Lakers’ grinding victory.
Archibald’s subtle yet effective messaging emphasised patience, consistency, and energy—a sentiment mirrored by Dodd’s earlier scoring. The bowling group and fielders backed up this approach, resulting in an outright win and bonus points, propelling A grade to the top of the ladder. Overall, with the bat, Matt Knight dominated the game on day 1, securing a brutal 100 while Dodd backed up with an aggressive 50 not out innings across both days of play.
With the ball, Brock McCabe finished with 7 wickets for the match, Irvine with 5 wickets, Matt McCabe 4 wickets, and Angus McMillin and Jobe Fraser each with one wicket.
The Lakers produced another well-rounded team performance with contributions across the board. Special thanks were extended to Byron and ‘Wedge’ Clarke for their support and for keeping the refreshments ice-cold.
Also, Hicksy’ for his ever-accurate scoring too. Looking ahead, the Lakers eagerly anticipate their first home game in over a month against Delatite Cricket Club next Saturday at Stan Hargreaves Oval, Vic Park, starting at 1 pm.
Your support is welcome—see you there!
A Reserve continue winning ways
Day 2 of the match against Benalla Bushrangers brought about a ripper day to play cricket.
The Lakers continued the run chase needing another 40 runs to secure victory. Not out batsmen from last week did not trouble the scorers this week with Van Kreeck being dismissed for 51 and Aneeque Azam being caught for 14.
A partnership was needed and that’s just what the team got with self-appointed all-rounders Tom Lovel and Xavier Mitchell putting up a partnership of 44.
Mitchell departed for a well-made 26 as Matt Wollington came in and hit the winning runs before joining his team back in the sheds.
Lovel and Ollie Connell attempted to stretch the lead out further but both were caught for 19 and 3 respectively.
The Lakers sent the Bushrangers back into bat, in an attempt to gain an outright win.
Opening bowlers Andrew Dishot and Ollie Connell started very well with Dishot picking up 2 wickets for himself.
Great pressure was pushed onto the Benalla batsmen as father son duo, Matt and Benji Wollington wouldn’t let anything through the covers, resulting in a great catch for Lucas Eales bowled by Lovel. Aneeque Azam once again showed why he is one of the premier bowlers in A Res picking up 2 late wickets.
Xavier Mitchell rounded out the wickettakers list bowling the Benalla opener.
Benalla finished 6/70 after the days play. A Reserve go into the bye next week with 4 wins on the trot.
B Grade comeback’s the key
Rovers United Bruck 10/129 def by Yarrawonga Mulwala 7/156.
With harvest under way the B grade Lakers were in trouble before the game started. Until the comeback boys arrived.
Against the top side the Lakers won the toss and decided to put the score on the board.
Hargreaves and Jamison opened. The later going cheap.
Docking next, perfect cover driver and out. Giblett on his second game in a decade joined Hargreaves and the two senior batsmen went about their work. At drinks the Lakers were 2/88.
With the game in the balance, Hargreaves got a good one and was out for 45. Geoffrey Montgomery joined Giblett and the score pushed along nicely with any short balls punished by the batsman. Giblett fell for a well complied 54.
The comeback king Montgomery a classy 27 then the wickets fell consistently until the end of the innings at 7-156.
Browning and Frauenfelder opened the bowling with the openers going hard at anything remotely short. Enter the 18 year old heartthrob Montgomery.
Taking the top 4 batsman with his perfect line and length he set the Lakers alight. The bowlers swapped regularly trying to get the next wicket until the experienced Marcus Hargreaves bowled a perfect line and length restricting the runs with a wicket and 7 overs for 13 runs.
With the fame in the balance, it was asked of the younger players to get the wicket. Purtle, Gove and young superstar Darcy Hargreaves all bowled without luck then debutant Jack Browning was given the ball.
A full inswinging Yorker was kept out then and full ball sliding across the batsman finding the outside of the bat and caught by Purtle in the covers concluded the game.
Lakers won by 27.
C Grade fall just short
Beechworth Wanderers 10/159 def Yarrawonga Mulwala 8/128.
The ever-changing C grade lads travelled across to the picturesque town of Stanley to take on the Beechworth Bushrangers.
After winning the toss Skipper Ben sent the Bushrangers out to have a bowl. P Brear and T Graham got the Lakers off to a steady start before Brear was caught.
In came the swashbuckling Bozzola but he was in and out just as quick. After a few quick wickets Captain Pickering arrived at the crease taking momentum away from the Bushrangers with some solid defence and great stroke play.
T Graham was bowled after getting himself in a bigger tangle than Charlottes Webb for 28.
Arriving at the crease was the new kid on the block S Hawking. Hawk and Pickers put on a great 30+ run partnerships getting the Lakers to a respectable score of 137.
The bowling didn’t get off to the best start with team manager Nathan Parker producing a “Practice Ball” sending the Bushrangers Captain home for a new ball before play could start.
The Bushrangers came out all guns blazing taking it to the bowlers with some lucky strike play finding the smallest of gaps.
Bozzola and Pickering were sending down some proper heat but the unlucky Lakers just couldn’t take a trick with the Bushrangers finding the gaps.
Enter Hawk and Graham and all of a sudden the game was back on the Lakers terms with Brear taking a super catch in slip followed by a big strut up to the stumps.
Unfortunately, the young Lakers fell a good 15 runs short with the Bushrangers able to scrape home for the win.
2 wickets each to Graham, Hawk and Pickering.
1 wicket to Jedda, Walker, Lucas Pickering and Tom Taylor. A great effort by all the young fellas.
Yarrawonga Chronicle