Perfect weather on Saturday welcomed cricketers to grounds throughout the Wimmera Mallee for the opening round of the 2024-’25 season.

The reigning premiers in both grades, Donald-Jeffcott, began the defence of the titles with victories at Donald and Birchip.

“A” grade

On the Jeffcott ground in Donald, the home team’s opening bowlers, Eddie Landwehr 4/20 (8) and Daniel Atkins 1/8 (8), and captain Cooper Anderson 4/28 (8) cut through Birchip’s top batting order, before Jonty Randall, 19, Cormac Wilson 26, a “fill-in” 22, and Rodney Bennett 12 not out, lifted the all-out score to 111. Will Burke was also a Donald-Jeffcott wicket-taker.

In reply, Donald-Jeffcott lost only 3 wickets in reaching a winning total of 112, top-scorers being Koby Westerland 38 not out, Daniel Atkins 35, Will Noble 18, and Eddie Landwehr 9 not out. Sharing the wickets for Birchip Swans were Lachie Randall, Riley Doran and a “fill-in”.

At Anzac Park, Warracknabeal, St. Mary’s batting against the Southern Mallee Giants was a real mixture, with a final score of 165 in 34.3 overs, including 4 ducks. Batsmen saving the day, however, were Nicholas Germano 67, Callum Zanker 23, Jacob Thomas 18 not out, and Daniel Westerland 11. Wicket-takers for the Giants were Jackson Moore 4/31 (8), Luke Mitchell 3/25 (7.3), Zachary Robins 2/48 (7), and Cooper Morris 1/16 (4). From then on, it was St. Mary’s all the way, with the Giants being all out for 47 in 26 overs, with Luke Morris’s ten runs being the only double-figure score. Causing the collapse were Bailey Watts 5/15 (8), Nicholas Germano 3/5 (5), Brodie Dennes 2/15 (8), and Hugh Nixon 0/10 (5).

Batting first at Marnoo on Sunday, St. Arnaud was dismissed for 137 in 33.2 overs, top scorers being Jacob Patching 51, Matthew Delzotto 34, and Bradley Williams 14. In early bowling form for Marnoo were David Lang 4/35, Cooper Reading 2/18, Ben Newton 2/18, Darcy Cameron 1/13, and captain Nic Baird 1/13. In reply, Marnoo needed only 17.4 overs to hit the front at 3/138. Nic Baird led the way with 47, while Stuart Lang contributed 42 not out, David Lang 20, “fill-in” 19, and Brylie Cameron 8 not out. St. Arnaud wicket-takers were Carl Torney 2/25 and Jacob Patching 1/36.

“B” grade

It was a case of runs galore at Birchip, where Donald-Jeffcott’s Andrew Bayles (back in the game after a break) made 62 runs in partnership with Kalon Green, 65. Jake Needs, 37, gave the team a solid start, while Tom Reekie remained 31 not out as the total reached 6/223. Multiple wicket-takers for Birchip Swans were Darcy Reid 2/25 (8) and Travis Knights 2/36 (8). After an early wicket loss, Birchip settled into the business of run-making, with valuable scores coming from Darcy Reid 40, Ryle Smith 30, Jack Knights 18, and Mark Trollope 16. From there, on, however, Donald-Jeffcott bowlers took control, bringing the innings to an end at 9/136. Leading the bowlers were Curtis Rice 4/32 (8), and Tom Reekie 2/13 (6).

Despite brilliant bowling figures of 6/15 (8) by Watchem Panthers’ Austin Dean, and the dismissal of 5 batsmen without scoring, Charlton managed a respectable total of 114 at Watchem. Among the runs were Charlton co-captain Patrick Soulsby 34, Billy Sexton 25, and Cooper Boyle 26 not out. Connor Boyle also took 2/16 (5) for the Panthers. On a “day for ducks”, Watchem also lost 4 wickets without scores, and with Elliott Fitzpatrick returning great figures of 6/10 (8), and Cooper Boyle 2/0 (2.4), Watchem was all out for 44.

In the closest match of the day, Southern Mallee Giants managed a total of 8/112 from 40 overs, thanks to the batting efforts of captain Kybe Bellinger 25, Oliver Wood 25 not out, Daven Pulham 24, and Clint Castleman 20. Best bowling figures for St. Mary’s were those of Jack Evans 3/13 (8), and Peter Roche 2/12 (2). Then, despite 31 runs from Kael Zanker, 24 from Aiden Keys, and 18 from Peter Roche, St. Mary’s final wicket fell at 101, in 33.1 overs. Eight bowlers shared the wickets for the Giants, the best figures being those of Kybe Bellinger, 2/18 (5).

See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 29 October 2024.