Echuca has brought high flying Leitchville-Gunbower back to earth after day one of their McMahon Shield clash.
L-G has been the surprise packet of the McMahon Shield so far this season, showing great improvement from the side that won just once in 2023-24.
The prospect of three-time defending champion Echuca at Victoria Park shaped as a difficult test for the resurgent L-G but the host looked even better than advertised.
Echuca demolished the L-G batting order and had first-innings points sewn up midway through day one.
The host sent L-G in after winning the toss and it wasn’t long before wickets started to tumble.
The procession began in the sixth over, when Tyler Jones, who had worked well with Joshua O’Shea to see off opening overs, fell victim to Kale Edwards with 16 runs on the board for the visitor.
Harry Wright’s stay in the middle was brief as he was sent back to the sheds after three balls for no score.
O’Shea (10) and Josh Hawken added a further 10 before a devastating period saw both depart in consecutive deliveries, sparking a dismal run of 4-3.
The visitor seemed incapable of establishing a lengthy partnership and while Jason (9) and James Keath (7) were able to chip in a few runs, it wasn’t enough to hold the innings together.
Jason in particular showed great resilience, holding down his end for 61 deliveries and somewhat slowing the cascade of wickets, but eventually he edged off into the hands of Kobyn James off Kale Edwards’ bowling.
The score was 8-55, caught the mode of dismissal for all eight wickets.
That streak was broken as Edwards completed a five-wicket haul by rolling through the L-G tail, bowling numbers 10 and 11 within three balls to dismiss the visitor for just 60.
His impressive figures of 5-9 mark one of the better bowling stints by any player this season, while Charlie Hinks (2-13) and Ben Henson (2-7) each came away with a pair of wickets.
With just under half the day remaining, Echuca made short work of running down the L-G total.
The bowling group did have some success, removing the dangerous Curtis Townrow for 13 through James Keath.
James Grixti (8) also departed cheaply, with Echuca at 2-44.
L-G’s hopes of minimising the Echuca lead were dashed by the third-wicket partnership of Brendan Moyle and Kobyn James, the pair putting on a 116-run stand.
They worked well together to improve the run rate and breeze past L-G’s total.
Both men notched half-centuries and were looking comfortable as the lead ticked over to 100.
Blake Gibson made the breakthrough for the visitor, finding the edge of Moyle to send him back to the pavilion for 59, but the damage had been done.
James concluded the day 74 not out and will be eyeing up a century at the resumption of play.
He will be joined by Hinks, who is yet to get off the mark after seeing off the final overs without score.
With first innings points already secured, it will be a matter of how long Echuca wishes to bat before attempting to skittle L-G again for overall honours.
Contrastingly, with outright victory a near impossibility for L-G, it will be playing a game of survival next Saturday, hoping to deny its opponent the extra points.
The Game
Leitchville-Gunbower 60 (Joshua O’Shea 10, Kale Edwards 5-9, Ben Henson 2-7) vs Echuca 3-162 (Kobyn James 74 not out, Brendan Moyle 59, James Keath 2-46)