To say that Noah Berry was having a good cricket season would be just about the understatement of the year.
Apart from his time with Donald-Jeffcott in the Wimmera-Mallee competition, Noah is also training with Geelong under-19s.
Whilst his first innings of the Wimmera-Mallee season yielded only one run, from then on he has reeled off scores of 131 not out, 54, 59, and 59 not out, with a six-round average of 101!
Add to that his wicketkeeping, including a catch and a stumping on Saturday, and there have been few overall individual performances to compare with this one so far.
With the skies threatening, and some rain having fallen, only two Wimmera-Mallee games were played on Saturday – both of them featuring Brim K.S.H. and Donald-Jeffcott.
At the top of the “A” grade ladder, Brim K.S.H. and Donald-Jeffcott were both undefeated in the first five rounds.
Electing to bat on the Jeffcott turf in Donald, Brim K.S.H. lost early wickets to the pace of Daniel Atkins, before spinner Lachie Jones stepped in to grab the outstanding figures of 4/14 from his 8 overs, restricting Brim K.S.H. to a total of 94. Double-figure scorers for Brim K.S.H. were Tim Bell 35, Lachlan McGinnis 14 and Leigh Dovaston 10, while Eddie Landwehr and Brady Griffiths also took a wicket each for Donald-Jeffcott.
Taking to the batting crease, Donald-Jeffcott lost a wicket early, before Noah Berry posted yet another not out half century, in partnerships with Cooper Anderson 17, and Aaron Schofield 7 not out, to steer the total to 2/96, and give their “A” grade team clear ladder leadership after 6 rounds. Wicket takers for Brim K.S.H. were Lachlan McGinnis 1/20, and Charlie Dean 1/18.
“B” Grade
At Brim, the home side made a strong start, with a 51-run partnership by Barry Schilling, 33, and Ethan Schilling 20. Sandon Schultz followed up with 28, and Josh McPherson 11, and after 40 overs the total was 8/114. Sharing the wickets for Donald-Jeffcott were Jett Adams 2/23 (8), Jacob Donnellon 2/29 (8), Joseph Praveen 1/18 (8), Peter O’Rourke 1/15 (5), and Andrew Donnellon 1/11 (7).
The foundation for a winning score of 5/118 was then set by Donald-Jeffcott openers, Glenn Pearse 33 and Damon Ethakada 24, and boosted by Colby Anderson 16 and Kalon Green 11. Best bowling figures for Brim K.S.H. were those Joshua McPherson 3/38 (7.1), and Jordan McPherson 2/12 (2).
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 28 November 2023.
