Maximum points are on offer for Kyabram Fire Brigade after a purposeful day one against Nondies-Cohuna in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s McMahon Shield.
On their home deck at Northern Oval, Kyabram, the Flames’ aggressive captaincy paid off, putting the home side in pole position to score first innings points, with an outright win also on the cards.
Nondies won the toss and elected to send Fire Brigade in, a decision it may have come to rue after an impressive batting performance from the host’s top order.
Openers Brett Andison and Miller Griffiths batted out almost 26 overs without loss, putting on 88 in that time.
Andison was looking to up the run rate in the 26th over, hitting Kyeran Ellery for a six and a four before he was trapped lbw, departing for 34.
Having seen off an impressive opening partnership, Nondies would have been hopeful of sparking a run of wickets, but it wasn’t to be as the second wicket stand proved as fruitful as the first.
Bohden Learmonth joined Griffiths in the middle and the pair added a further 85 runs.
Learmonth was looking more aggressive than either Andison or Griffiths had been to that point and the pair advanced the score at about four runs an over during its stand.
Griffiths fell short of securing a century, removed by John Officer for 89 with the total 2-173.
Learmonth continued to accelerate, drawing his strike rate closer to the 80s as he began to find the boundary with more regularity.
Shannon Fleming (9) and Kaine Herbert (28) joined him at the crease in this period, with Herbert’s innings in particular indicating a change in mindset from the Flames.
His 28 came off 25 deliveries and included three fours and a six.
Fire Brigade was clearly looking to put the finishing touches on its total, which by the time of Herbert’s departure had surpassed 250, and then take a shot at Nondies in the remaining overs of the day.
Cohan Hooper (10 not out) was the last batter called on by the Flames and he bore witness as Learmonth sneaked through for a single in the 69th over to secure his ton.
The new centurion lofted one over the rope with the final ball of that over and captain Robert Salter called time on the innings then and there, Fire Brigade at 4-289 declared and Learmonth unbeaten on 106.
It was a day of much toil and little reward for Nondies in the field, with none of the eight bowlers used coming away with more than one scalp.
Officer (1-24) had the most economical figures, giving up 2.66 an over, while Ellery’s efforts warrant recognition, the Nondies captain bowling a gruelling 22 overs for his 1-95.
After the innings change, Nondies had eight overs remaining to survive before stumps, but the winless visitors found themselves in all sorts pretty quickly.
The end of the third over had Salter remove Shaun Haffenden for no score, leaving Nondies 1-4 after one run off the bat and three-leg byes in the opening 18 balls.
In the next two overs only one more run was scored before Salter struck again with the final delivery of the fifth, Ellery heading to the sheds for two.
Will Ringin and Officer tried to hold out the remaining overs, but with the second last ball of the day Jackson Barnett sent one rocketing into Officer’s stumps, Nondies a miserable 3-10.
Will O’Shea was called to the middle for a single delivery, which he successfully negotiated before stumps was called, Nondies 277 runs in arrears with only seven wickets in the sheds.
Salter (2-2) and Barnett (1-5) each had impressive four-over spells to set their side in good stead come day two.
The aggressive declaration from Fire Brigade puts the Flames in position to search for outright victory on day two, worth an additional six competition points.
The hosts will look to remove Nondies quickly and cheaply to kick off the day, likely eying up the possibility of enforcing the follow-on and rolling through them again to secure the outright win.
Nondies’ Ringin (four not out) and O’Shea (0 not out) along with the rest of the batting order, will have plenty to do to stave off outright defeat, let alone keep hope alive of an unlikely resurgence towards the Flames’ total.
In other games, Rochester has a healthy total to defend going into day two against Echuca South.
Dylan Cuttriss led the line with an 85-run cameo, spearheading the Tigers to 281, while Ben Eade (3-37) was the pick of the Swans’ bowlers.
Meanwhile, Moama has an ever larger score to protect following a prolific day with the bat against Bamawm-Lockington United, reaching 9-295 as Anthony McMahon (78) and Matt Saunders (57) went big.
Finally, Echuca has already scored a first innings victory against Leitchville-Gunbower.
Kale Edwards (5-9) starred with ball in hand as Echuca bowled the combine out for 60 and now the host has a lead of 102 as Kobyn James remains at the crease at 74 not out.