Rochester dug deep in round five to return to winning ways, picking up a 14-run win over Kyabram in the Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s competition.
The battleground of Windridge Oval saw Rochy win the toss and bat first but the Kyabram attack had its line and length in check in the early overs.
The first five overs yielded just 17 runs and was capped off with the opening wicket when Georgia Leonard got one through Taya Munro’s defences.
Fellow opener Imogen Kath joined her partner in the sheds shortly after, leaving Rochy in the precarious position of 2-18.
The introduction of Sadie Martin got the host back on course, the number three striking with purpose and boosting the run rate.
Martin’s work in the middle yielded 20 from 21 deliveries and her pairing with Miranda Crawford added 35 runs.
Cadence Major was next in and followed Martin’s lead, the two briefly sharing the crease before Major (21 not out) and Hayley Broucek (11 not out) were able to guide Rochester to a defendable 5-99 from its 20 overs.
Lauren Renden’s bowling stood out both in strike power and economy as she led Kyabram with 2-6.
Emma Roberts, Rebecca Bowles and Georgia Leonard also picked up wickets for the Redbacks.
Kyabram has struggled to make runs so far this season, but several batters put in a good showing against Rochy as they looked to chase the total.
The innings started ominously for the visitor, who lost both openers within the first four overs.
Rebecca Bowles (15) provided Ky with some useful go forward, finding the boundary three times in her 12 deliveries.
Her partnership with Becky Bruce yielded 17 runs for the fifth wicket, and Bruce and Leonard added a further 13 in their sixth wicket partnership, putting the Redbacks within striking distance at 6-64.
Five overs remained and a further 36 runs were required for Ky to pick up its first victory of the year, but the loss of three wickets in the following two overs effectively ended the Redbacks’ fightback.
Kyabram’s final batting pair of Morgan Parsons and Jaclyn Wickham were able to hold on to their wickets and keep the innings alive, but the runs didn’t come as Ky completed its overs at 9-85.
Cadence Major starred with the ball for Rochy, taking 4-9, including two wickets that broke the Kyabram fightback in the 16th over.
The win positions Rochester back in the top half of the competition at 3-1. It travels to Nagambie next week to take on the in-form Lakers.
BLU vs Nagambie
Bamawm-Lockington United hosted Nagambie at Bamawm Recreation Reserve, but the Lakers’ batting stocks proved too deep for the Lions to contain.
BLU sent the visitor in but Nagambie was quick to go on the attack.
Opener Kayla Shepherd was looking to score quickly and belted four fours and three sixes on the way to a 46 retired not out performance.
Opening partner Amber Langham kept the scoreboard ticking over at the other end, accumulating 18 before she too retired unbeaten.
Kait Carracher at number three then dealt the death blow to BLU’s hopes.
In perhaps the innings of the competition thus far, she belted nine fours and six maximums in her 30 balls at the crease, striking at 203.33 to post 61 before she became the third straight Nagambie batter to leave the middle unbeaten.
Ruby Brentnall was finally able to provide the Lions some joy, removing Breanna Davison, but Nagambie’s Sarah Villinger and Sharay Silvarich were required to do little but see out the remaining overs as their side posted a mountainous 1-184.
BLU had a lot to do in the ensuing run chase, but whether the pressure of the scoreboard proved too great, or the bowling of Nagambie too restrictive, the Lions never looked like making much of a dent in the deficit.
Openers Brentnall and Evie Riordan held firm for several overs, hoping to see out the early assault and build from there, but both were dismissed about halfway through their 30-ball limit.
Wickets started to tumble rapidly and only Amy Fitzgerald was able to provide any resistance for the Lions.
She eked out 22 unbeaten from 28 balls, but eventually ran out of partners as BLU was dismissed for just 67.
Nagambie shared around wicket-taking duties, with Villinger (2-4), Kelsey Abbott (2-4) and Elli Maltman (2-7) each striking twice.
BLU’s next assignment is a trip to Katamatite on Sunday.