Cricket
28 October, 2024
Germano and Watts lead St Marys to massive win
St Marys Cricket Club started their season with a dominating start, defeating the Southern Mallee Giants by 118 runs at Anzac Park, Warracknabeal, in round one of the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association.
The Giants won the toss and sent St Marys into bowl, and Jackson Moore did the early damage, claiming Daniel Westerland for 11 and Brodie Dennes for a duck to have St Marys 2/33.
Nicholas Germano, alongside Nathan Priest, put on a valuable 45-run partnership before Priest was bowled for Luke Mitchell for nine. St Marys were 3-79, and not long after, Hugh Nixon fell for a golden duck, clean bowled by Luke Mitchell, and were 4-87.
Germano continued to lead the way, adding another 19 runs alongside Bailey Watts before Jackson Moore trapped him in front for LBW, and when Moore dismissed Lincoln Westerland for a duck, two balls later, the home side was 6/118.
They quickly fell to 8/122, but Callum Zanker, 23, and Jacob Thomas, with an unbeaten 18, led them to 10/165.
Jackson Moore finished with 4/31 (8) and Luke Mitchell, 3/25 (7.3).
With a competitive total on the board, Bailey Watts ripped through the Giants top order, claiming Leighton Hateley, Zachary Robins, Jack Flavel and Jonty Bellinger in a brutal spell of bowling, leaving the Giants 5/22. Brodie Dennes was the other wicket-taker, bowling Luke Mitchell for 10.
Watts then claimed his fifth wicket not long after, having Jayson Kiem caught by Daniel Westerland for three and the Giants reeling at 6/29.
Germano then finished the innings, taking three wickets to bowl the Giants out for 47 after 26 overs.
Watts finished with 5/15 (8) and Germano 3/5 (5).
Watts said it was a good win and that it worked out for him.
"I just pitched the ball in the right spots, and it was swinging a bit and doing a bit off the pitch, and it just worked out for me," Watts said.
"Leading up was okay. You can always bowl well in the nets, but game day is different. You need to bowl the right lines, and hopefully, the batters make a mistake.
"It's always special to win in the first round against a good team, and we are looking forward to the 20/20s next week."
Reigning premiers cruise to seven-wicket win
Donald Jeffcott has opened their premiership defence in style, defeating Birchip by seven wickets at Donald Recreation Reserve.
Birchip won the toss, batted, and immediately fell to 5/19, with Eddie Landwehr taking four wickets.
Jonty Randall, 19, helped rebuild the innings with the lower order, but Birchip could only manage 111 and was bowled out after 38 overs.
Landwehr finished with figures of 4/20 (8), and Cooper Anderson also took four wickets, finishing 4/28 (8).
In response, Donald Jeffcott chased the total down in the 26th over, finishing at 3/112. Koby Westerland led the way with an unbeaten 36, with Daniel Atkins scoring 35.
Lachy Randall was the pick of the bowlers with 1/31 (5.1).
Marnoo comfortable victors
On Sunday at Marnoo Recreation Reserve, Marnoo cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over St Arnaud.
After winning the toss and batting, St Arnaud was bowled out for 137 in the 34th over. Jacob Patching led the way with 51, with a handy contribution from Matthew Delzotto with 34.
David Lang was the pick of the Marnoo bowlers with 4/35 (8).
In reply, Carl Torney took 2/25 (4) for St Arnaud, but Marnoo were too good, chasing the total down in the 18th over with the loss of three wickets.
Nic Baird top scored with 47 and Stuart Lang finished on an unbeaten 42.
Round two in the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association sees the first round of the two T20s.
At King Georges Park in St Arnaud, Donald Jeffcott, Marnoo and St Arnaud play each other and at Anzac Park, St Marys, Birchip and the Southern Mallee Giants battle.
DONALD JEFFCOTT KICK OFF PREMIERSHIP DEFENCE IN STYLE
In B-grade of the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association, Donald Jeffcott has kickstarted their premiership defence in style, defeating Birchip by 87 runs at Birchip Recreation Reserve.
Donald Jeffcott won the toss and batted, and they managed to put up 6/223 off their 40 overs. Kalon Green, 65, Andrew Bayles, 62, Jake Needs, 37, and Thomas Reekie, unbeaten on 31, led the way.
Birchip fought hard chasing the total down with Rylee Smith and Jack Knights scoring 30 and 19, respectively, but the Donald Jeffcott bowling was too good, bowling Birchip out for 136 in the 40th over, with Curtis Rice the star, finishing with 4/32 (8).
At Watchem Cricket Ground, Charlton started their season with a comfortable 70-run win over Watchem.
After winning the toss and batting, Charlton was bowled out for 114 after 27 overs. Patrick Soulsby scored 34 with Belly Sexton, 25 and Cooper Boyle unbeaten on 26.
The last five batters made ducks, with Austin Dean doing the damage, taking 6/15 (8) featuring four maidens.
In reply, a massive bowling spell from Elliott Fitzpatrick helped guide Charlton to the win, bowling Watchem out for 44 in the 15th over.
Fitzpatrick claimed 6/10 (5) in a dominating spell, with Cooper Boyle assisting with 2/0 (2.4).
At Hopetoun Recreation Reserve, the Southern Mallee Giants defeated St Marys by 11 runs in a tight contest.
St Marys won the toss and bowled and restricted the Giants to 8/112. Jack Evans claimed both openers, Jack Vanderburg and Parker Hallam, for three and two runs, respectively and finished with figures of 3/13 (8).
Kyle Bellinger, 25, Clinton Castleman, 20, Daven Pulham, 24 and Oliver Wood, unbeaten on 25, were the stars for the Giants with the bat.
Kael Zanker, 31, and Aiden Keys, 24, alongside Peter Roche, 18, all led the way with the bat for St Marys in reply, but losing regular wickets was their downfall as they were bowled out for 101 in the 34th over, just 12 runs shy of the target.
Kybe Bellinger, 2/17, and Oliver Wood, 2/13, were the multiple wicket-takers for the Giants.
All six teams will play at Donald Recreation Reserve and Goff Letts Oval in the T20 carnival round next week.