PREMIUM
Sport

Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s round two features contenders cruising and a destructive debutant

Mooroopna’s Bella Woods was restrictive in her four-over display. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Round two of the Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s competition threw up a couple of eye-popping numbers.

Of course, for Mooroopna and Shepparton United, it was another weekend of fairly smooth sailing.

The Cats travelled to Nagambie looking to go two from two — at the expense of a pair of red and black outfits — and Rechelle Zammit was behind the lens.

This was hardly the same type of game as Mooroopna’s season opener with Kyabram, though; where last season’s runner-up flexed its offensive muscle in round one, it was all about restriction and bowling prowess the second time around.

Electing to send the Lakers in, opener Amber Langham was happy to help from the non-striker’s end as Shelley Houston soaked up her allotted 30 balls.

In fact, with another dazzling fielding display resulting in four Mooroopna run outs, it was remarkable that Langham faced only 18 deliveries despite falling as the seventh wicket in the innings.

Kayla Shepherd offered some resistance with her 24 including two boundaries, but the Cats would have fancied themselves a strong chance in chasing 72 to win.

It didn’t take a damaging knock through Mooroopna’s top order to get the job done, with Ebony Sleeth and Maggie Egglestone retiring not out.

In no great hurry — and with no real need to be — the Cats coasted through and posted a straightforward nine-wicket win to approach their round three bye in the most ideal state.

It won’t get easier in a hurry following the week off, however, with meetings against Echuca and Moama to follow in succession.

About the same distance away from town in the polar opposite direction, Shepparton Youth Club United travelled to Katamatite for a meeting with the Tigers.

The combine took the bull by the horns from the outset as trailblazing import Sophie Ullah impressed out in the middle with runs and more runs on her mind.

All told, it was a done deal before long as Katamatite stumbled to 6-50 for its troubles, the visitors coming back into town with a handy 70-run result in tow.

Jessica Cox led from the front for reigning premier Echuca, claiming brilliant figures of 3-3 from four overs — with three maidens — as her side accounted for Nathalia with ease in an eight-wicket win.

Echuca’s dominance across the opening fortnight has the border-based outfit sitting top of the table, with every chance of going 3-0 and putting more pressure on in facing Kyabram next up.

After forfeiting in week one, Cooma got on the park for the first time and Cathy Dervish’s haul of three poles was instrumental in delivering a win over Bamawm-Lockington United.

By far the most staggering set of numbers belonged to Moama, playing its first competitive fixture in the women’s competition away at Kyabram.

Things were moving along pleasantly enough for the newcomers after Isla and Delaney Laffy each contributed 27 apiece to set up a strong total of 2-115, but nobody would have anticipated what came in the second innings.

A Redbacks side missing Hope Irvine, who shone through on a difficult day against Mooroopna, capitulated in totality as Isla Laffy backed up her batting with an insane spell of six wickets conceding nothing at all.

Only two Kyabram batters registered a score and, in sitting at 7-2 on one occasion, fell all out for 10 to complete an astonishing 105-run debut win for the visitors.