Sport
12 February, 2024
St Marys win in style
St Marys stormed to a 137-run win in their annual Pink Stumps Day match against Wycheproof/Narraport at Anzac Park on Saturday.
After winning the toss and batting, they lost Colby Schmidt early, but Nicholas Germano, Daniel Westerland, Paul Rowe and Matt Hartnett all provided partnerships, and with some late hitting from Leigh Somers and Nick Toscano, they finished on 9/196 after their 40 overs.
Nick Germano was the top scorer with 38 followed by Matt Harnett on 34. In reply, regular wickets were led by Leigh Somers, 3/12, and Colby Schmidt, 3/14.
After the tough week on the training track, Schmidt said they responded well.
"It was a good all-round team performance. Everyone batted well and no one stood out," Schmidt said.
"We batted with good intent, got good starts and even though we didn't go on with them, you aren't losing many cricket matches with that score.
"The bowling was good. It's easy to bowl when you have a score on the board and not defending 60 or 70."
The club raised $1600 for the Jane McGrath Foundation and even though it was down from last year, it was still a great success.
"We had 50 ladies show up that night and the Wyche boys hung around which was good of them," he said.
"They only had nine players so they could easily have forfeited but they stuck it out and stuck around afterwards for the night. They are good blokes."
At King Georges Park, Brim narrowly scraped through for victory with a two-wicket win. After losing the toss and bowling, they restricted St Arnaud to 141.
Just like last week, they were cruising along and when they lost Isaac McPherson, they were 6/122 and lost two wickets for ten runs but it was Sandon Schultz and Charlie Dean guiding them home in the 38th over.
Chris McPherson, 2/18, Charlie Dean, 2/23 were the pick of BrimKSH's bowlers with Isaac McPherson, 35 the top-scorer.
At Marnoo Recreation Reserve, Marnoo won a thriller by four wickets. After losing the toss and bowling, they restricted Birchip to 8/164 off their 40 overs. Riley Doran top scored with 60 whilst Jimmy Duxson took 4/34.
In reply, they chased the total down with three balls to spare, scoring 6/166. Jimmy Duxson led the way with an unbeaten 90.
In B-Grade, Southern Mallee Giants defeated St Marys by 9 wickets. After winning the toss and batting, St Marys were bowled out for 69 with Shannon Bartlett, 18, and Gary Fernandez, 16* leading the way.
Jackson Moore, 3/8 and Clinton Castleman, 3/8, were the pick of the bowlers for the Giants. In reply, the Giants chased the total down in the 22nd over with Matt Bellinger and Jack Flavel unbeaten on 25 and 26 respectively. Jed Hartnett was the sole wicket-taker for St Marys.
At Donald Recreation Reserve, a massive performance from Lukshan Kasthuriarachchi wasn't enough for Watchem as they lost to Donald Jeffcott by 45 runs.
Lukshan took 5/41 and scored 42 in the match. Donald Jeffcott's best performers were Ryan Bath, 3/11, and Thomas Reekie, 58.
At Birchip Recreation Reserve, Charlton defeated Birchip by 118 runs. Billy Sexton scored 96 in their total of 215. They bowled Birchip out for 97 with Brad Ryan the star for the Swans with 32.