Leitchville-Gunbower, 2023-24 cellar dweller, is looking to make an impact this McMahon Shield campaign.
After a competitive performance, L-G ultimately fell short last week against Echuca but came into the contest against Echuca South with confidence, especially on the familiar ground of Gunbower Recreation Reserve.
The Swans won the toss but may regret their decision to send Leitchville-Gunbower in after its top order put in a composed batting performance.
The man of the hour was Tyler Jones who took it to the South attack, fellow opener Billy Hawken going with him as the pair made a 44-run first-wicket stand.
Jones was next joined by Jed Brereton and settled in for a 122-run partnership for the second wicket.
Striking at more than a run a ball, Jones, raced past 50 and couldn’t be stopped, smashing six fours and three sixes as he became the first man to notch a century in the young season.
Bringing up the milestone with a maximum was icing on the cake for the L-G star, as he reached 100 in less than 90 balls.
However, just four runs later Jones’s phenomenal innings was at an end, Tristan Watson making the vital breakthrough for South.
The wicket triggered a minor collapse for L-G, as Brereton departed three balls later and the home side lost a total of 5-33 in the ensuing overs, putting its score at a still impressive 6-199.
Joshua O’Shea (16) and Josh Hawken (19) restored some stability, each reaching double figures to help L-G to 233 all out from 43.4 of the allotted 45 overs.
Jones 104 from 91 was by far the standout performance of the innings, while Brereton made a useful 35 and Liam Keath added 24.
A.K. Gunathilaka (3-34) and Rathika Rajakumara (3-51) each grabbed three wickets but runs flowed much too freely for the Swans’ liking, all six bowlers used possessing an economy rate higher than 3.5.
Echuca South had a lot of work to do with the bat and Jayden Rosin and Clayton Watson quickly set about chasing down the 234 required for victory.
The pair put on 55 for the first wicket, with Rosin (34 from 34) in particular scoring with intent before he became the first to depart.
Watson (36) held down his end but also fell in the 30s, and that was the last of the Swans’ meaningful scorers in the innings.
Asantha Singappuli (13), Rajakumara (17), Tristan Watson (12), and Thomas Morphett (18 not out) all made starts but weren’t able to go on with the job.
In the end, South limped to an all-out 155, handing Leitchville-Gunbower the win by 78 runs.
Jye Keath’s 5-27 helped L-G dismantle a formidable Swans batting order while Blake Gibson, Liam Keath, and Simon Tatt all picked up wickets.
L-G’s two star performers, Jones and Jye Keath, each missed last week’s match-up with Echuca and Leitchville-Gunbower will be keen to see what they can do with them in the line-up regularly.
Having only won once in 2023-24, L-G will be buoyant to have picked up its maiden victory in only its second fixture, and the side now up to fifth on the table, one ahead of South.
As the competition moves into the first round of two-day fixtures next weekend, L-G looks forward to a visit to Cohuna Recreation Reserve, while Echuca South will be away to Bamawm-Lockington United.
The Game
Leitchville-Gunbower 233 (Tyler Jones 104, Jed Brereton 35, A.K. Gunathilaka 3-34, Rathika Rajakumara 3-51) defeated Echuca South 155 ( Clayton Watson 36, Jayden Rosin 34, Jye Keath 5-27)