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Cricket

4 November, 2024

St Marys and Donald Jeffcott remain unbeaten

Round two of the Wimmera Cricket Association saw a T20 carnival in both A and B Grades. St Marys and Donald Jeffcott finished the round as the only unbeaten teams in the competition.

By Chris Graetz

St Marys captain Daniel Westerland hit a half century in one of the matches. PHOTO: SHANE ROBERTS
St Marys captain Daniel Westerland hit a half century in one of the matches. PHOTO: SHANE ROBERTS

St Marys, Birchip and the Southern Mallee Giants played at Anzac Park in Warracknabeal.

St Marys defeated Southern Mallee Giants in the first match by 37 runs. After winning the toss and batting, St Marys put up 7/134. Colby Schmitt made an unbeaten 44 (53), with Brodie Dennes also batting well, scoring 25. Jack Flavel was the pick of the bowlers for the Giants, with 3/26.

Zachary Robins scored 30, and Jack Flavel, 21, for the Giants in the run chase, but the St Marys bowlers were too good, led by Bailey Watts, 2/18, Brodie Dennes, 2/10 and Nathan Priest, 2/12.

In the second match, St Marys defeated Birchip by seven runs in a thriller. After winning the toss and bowling, Birchip restricted St Marys to 7/122. Jonty Randall, 2/11, Riley Doran, 2/16, and William Marks, 2/14, were the pick of the bowlers for Birchip.

Daniel Westerland was the star for St Marys, scoring 64 (52).

Despite only losing four wickets, Birchip could not chase the total down, finishing at 4/115. Lachy Randall, 30, was the top batsman, while Nathan Priest took another two wickets for St Marys, finishing with figures of 2/17 (3).

In the other match, Birchip easily encountered for the Southern Mallee Giants, defeating them by 51 runs.

After winning the toss and batting, Connor Lee was the star for Birchip with an unbeaten 66 (63) as they made 4/163. Riley Doran also scored a half-century, finishing on 50 (30). Shane Roberts was the pick of the Giants bowlers with figures of 1/19 (4).

The Giants finished at 6/112, with Luke Mitchell scoring the most with 23. Connor Lee, 2/19, was Birchip's best bowler.

At King Georges Park in St Arnaud, Donald Jeffcott, St Arnaud and Marnoo all battled.

In the first match, Donald Jeffcott won the toss and batted first against St Arnaud, scoring a massive 6/189 off their 20 overs.

Aaron Schofield was the star for Donald Jeffcott with 45. Cooper Anderson, 39, and Will Noble, 33, also contributed with handy scores.

Carl Torney was the pick of the St Arnaud bowlers, taking 3/22 (4).

In Donald Jeffcott's second match, they easily accounted for Marnoo, winning by 70 runs.

After winning the toss at batting, they made 6/182, with Daniel Atkins scoring an unbeaten 67.

Cooper Anderson took 2/17, and Daniel Atkins also picked up a wicket as Donald Jeffcott restricted Marnoo to 7/112. David Lang scored 26 for Marnoo.

Marnoo, however, did win a match, as they defeated St Arnaud by 69 runs. Batting first, they scored 4/182, with Nic Baird starring with 78 runs. Jacob Patching took 2/31 (4) for St Arnaud.

In reply, St Arnaud could only manage 5/113, with Jacob Patching scoring 41. David Lang was the pick of the Marnoo bowlers, taking 2/9 (2).

In B-Grade, all six matches were played at Donald Recreation Reserve between the two ovals. Donald Jeffcott, Watchem, Charlton, St Marys, Southern Mallee Giants and Birchip all squared off.

Donald Jeffcott opened proceedings and had a comfortable 35-run win over Birchip. After winning the toss and batting, they made 5/152, with Damon Ethakada and Kalon Green top-scoring with 38 runs. Colby Anderson also contributed with an unbeaten 37.

Joel Emonson was the pick of the bowlers for Birchip with 1/22 (4).

In reply, Birchip made 6/117. Glenn Pearse led the way for Donald Jeffcott with 3/7 (2).

In Donald Jeffcott's second game, they had an easy eight-wicket win over the Southern Mallee Giants.

After winning the toss and batting, the Giants finished at 7/64, with Daen Pulham scoring 17. Curtis Rice, 2/3, and Niluka Nanayakkara, 2/9, were the pick of the bowlers for Donald Jeffcott.

Donald Jeffcott chased the total down in the eighth over, finishing at 2/65 with Thomas Reekie not out on 32.

In the Giants' second match, they lost to Watchem by six wickets. They posted 4/63, with Parker Hallam starting with 31. In reply, Watchem chased the total down in the 15th over, also losing four wickets, finishing on 66. Ty Colbert and Jeremy Dean were unbeaten on 28 and 13, respectively, with Clinton Castleman the pick of the Giants bowlers with 1/5.

In Charlton's first match, they thrashed St Marys by 87 runs. They batted first and, through Cooper Boyle with 73, made 4/159. Riley Adams was the pick of the St Marys bowlers with 3/17.

St Marys scored 8/72, with Paul Rowe scoring 29. Elliott Fitzpatrick, 2/6, and Cooper Boyle, 2/13, were Charlton's best bowlers.

In Charlton's second match, they cruised to a nine-wicket win over Birchip. They bowled Birchip out for 49, with Hugh Sait finishing with incredible figures of 5/3 (3).

They chased the total down in the seventh over with the loss of one wicket, with Ethan Soulsby top-scoring with an unbeaten 28.

Watchem was too good for St Marys, winning by 52 runs. Watchem lost the toss and was sent into bat, making 3/135, with Brent Barber and Ty Colbert scoring 51 and 46, respectively. Nick Toscano finished with 2/15 for St Marys.

Paul Rowe led the way for St Marys with the bat again, scoring 46, and they finished with 7/83. Ty Colbert was the pick of the Watchem bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/7 (4).

WMCA president Ben Duxson said the early feedback was positive.

"I have received good feedback so far that all clubs have enjoyed it, but with another carnival next week, it will give us a better idea of what people are thinking," Duxson said.

"I think 20/20s open themselves up for any result, and anyone can win on the day.

"Birchip was light in B-Grade and got some players from other clubs, and hopefully, next week, we can have some good discussions and see if it's worth pursuing in the future."

Next week, all A-grade teams will play at Donald on the two grounds, and in B-grade, Donald Jeffcott, Charlton, and Watchem will face off at Charlton Park and Southern Mallee Giants, St Marys, and Birchip at Hopetoun Recreation Reserve.

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