Resuming on 0/9 after day one, Lakers A Grade openers Kyle Archibald and Reid Clarke were patient early, knocking singles around and punishing anything too short or full away to Ovens Valley United in Myrtleford.
Clarke hit a number of beautiful cover drives for boundaries, while Archibald smacked a pull shot that cannoned into the boundary fence.
The partnership was broken with the score on 16, Archibald gone for 9.
Ben Welsh came to the crease and looked solid before he was bowled by a delivery that nipped back through the gate.
Zach Moore joined Clarke, the pair looking to be positive and keep the run rate up. Clarke hit four boundaries before his knock came to an end on 27, caught at mid-wicket looking to use his feet to spin.
The fall of Clarke brought Brock McCabe to the middle. Needing a partnership, the pair batted for 16 overs together, putting on 65 runs before Moore was dismissed for 43.
Matt Knight was ultra positive upon arriving at the crease, but unfortunately tore his hamstring hitting one of his four boundaries.
Looking to continue to up the run rate, he was caught at cover for a quick fire 23. McCabe continued with his work, highlighted by flicks off his legs for boundaries and hard running between the wickets.
Adam Dodd looked to up the run rate but picked out the fielder in the deep. He was soon joined in the sheds by Fraser Smart, who was bowled by a full delivery with the score on 161.
McCabe brought up his well-deserved 50 with a pull shot through mid-wicket but was dismissed shortly after with a sharp return catch taken by their spinner.
Sam Lidgerwood and Angus McMillan remained positive in their stroke play before they were both out with the score on 183, Angus Heslin remaining the not out batsman at the other end.
The Lakers will look now to this week, where they return to Stan Hargreaves Oval against Wangaratta Magpies in their second two-day fixture.
A Reserve fall just short
Winning the toss, Captain Hill chose to bat first. Openers Brendan Hill and Ollie Cope set the tone early with a nice partnership of 45 before Hill guided one to the slips for regulation catching practice.
But it was an outstanding performance from superstar player, Aneeque Azam, who stole the show with the bat.
Azam’s smart 45 was the backbone of the innings, with Dishot playing a key supporting role with his 25.
Their well-timed strokes and calm demeanour under pressure ensured the side continued to move the score on, despite tight bowling from the Rovers attack.
Middle order batsman ‘Matches’ McCabe and Tom Lovel attempted to lift the run rate late before being dismissed early, with Yarra reaching a total of 157.
After an extremely stacked arvo tea, McCabe and Dish opened the bowling with express pace, taking an early wicket.
With Jug O'Brien back where he should be behind the stumps Yarra continued to stay on top as all-rounder Azam bowled tight in the middle overs for his 3/27.
TJ “Chompers” Docking also bowled well for his 1/29, keeping the game within reach. However, Rovers veterans struck a partnership together and unfortunately reaching the total with an over to spare.
B Grade remain undefeated
Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/152 def Ovens Valley United 10/42.
After the week off, the boys were back on Stan Hargreaves this week against Ovens Valley.
Winning his first toss for the year Hudson Gillies elected to bat first. Hudson and the inform bat Jack Connell opened up getting away to a fast start before Gillies was stumped for “23” and Connell spooned one back to the bowler for ”6”.
This brought Geoffrey Montgomery and Mitch Pettit to the crease who both looked good going after anything wide before Petit skied one for “11”.
John Taylor didn’t trouble the scorers, with Geoff falling for “22” and the boys were looking a bit shaky until Charlie Jaimeson “33” and Lach Phillips “17” had a good partnership smashing them all around Victoria Park.
The tail wagged getting the score up to a decent total of 152. After a cracker arvo tea Jyda House was once again thrown the new ball with Hunter Fraunfelder in great form from the other end.
Both bowled extremely well with Jyda taking 1-9 off his 7 and Hunter claiming 2-2 off his 5, the boys had Ovens Valley on the ropes at 3/6.
Next to bowl was Geoffrey and Lach who both bowled well with Geoff getting a break-through.
Ovens Valley then consolidated keeping the good balls out getting through to drinks at 4/30.
After drinks the Lakers needed a moment to spark them into gear and this is when Jack “Big Show” Connell took an absolute screamer to dismiss Ovens Valleys best bat.
Jacks catch being the best of the day lasted all of a couple overs when Geoff pulled off an absolute miracle diving catch to put Ovens at 6/42.
It was now Skipper Gary Browning’s turn to bowl and he did not disappoint. In his second over Gary took 4 wickets in 5 balls being on a hatrick twice to bowl Ovens Valley out for 42.
Another great win for the boys who take on Greta at Lonsdale Reserve next week.
C Grade’s Hawkings and Michael humble Greta
Yarrawonga Mulwala 6/257 def Greta White 10/209.
An imposing 257 awaited the visitors after Shaun Hawking recorded a better than run a ball century and Kade Michael played a cameo with 44 as the two combined for a 218 run fifth wicket stand that swung the odds of the match to the way of the locals.
Having won the toss with an incorrect call by Greta, Yarrawonga Mulwala elected to make first use of the beautiful conditions of the number 2 oval at Victoria Park.
Darcy Hargreaves must have walked under a ladder, broke a mirror, and had a black cat cross his path as he was sent back to the pavilion for 4 after a double noise LBW call when against him.
Hawking strode to the crease and quickly assessed the situation, deciding that runs-a-plenty were on the menu.
“The Hawk” began with a few appetising knocks and nudges before working up his appetite and feasted on the Greta attack.
After bringing up his 50, Hawking then gorged himself on a smorgasbord of shots to quickly serve up a delicious three figure score worthy of a Michelin 5 star rating.
After a lean run, Kade Michael announced himself with a rapid fire 44 that partnered nicely with Hawking, as the two broke the hearts, back and spirit of the boys from the valley.
Michael’s clean hitting was a feature, as he backed his judgement, and his eye and confidence did the rest.
Sitting pretty at drinks on 4 for 119, the pair then launched a terrifying assault against the bowling that ran the opposition to despair.
Boundary after boundary ensued, the runs flowed while all the while the wicket opportunities dried up.
It took a direct hit from the field to have Michael just short of his ground to break the 218-run combination, but the celebration was subdued as the horse had well and truly bolted.
It was left to Will Murphy to have a swing (12) and the Gove Father-Son combine to red ink the innings, Dad on 1no and son on 13no.
With ball in hand, “the Lakers” went about their work with a minimum of fuss.
Murphy opened from the southern end and produced some beautiful wicket taking deliveries in the first over that did not take any wickets.
Michael proved his all-rounder claims with a fierce four-over spell that crack the opposition wide open and in doing so, took away any chance of having the score on the board overhauled.
Three wickets for 17 runs off his four overs made it near impossible for the GCC to get out of first gear.
While Michael was claiming the edge of the bat, debutant Damien Leeburn donned the “Big Mitts” as he reacquainted himself behind the stumps after a 20-year hiatus and then accepted all chances produced.
Leeburn’s first clutch of the day was simply a “marvellous” low down dive to his right and pouched it in his right glove millimetres from the turf. What a catch!
And just like that, 20-years faded away and he was gloving everything.
Leeburn went on to claim five catches for the innings. A partnership between Seeley (85) and Salafia (44) gave Greta a glimmer of hope, with the bowling being swung around to find a breakthrough.
Murphy bowled extremely well without a wicket, Hargreaves couldn’t stem the flow, Thorp troubled without luck, Jas Gove was stiff not to grab two, Lucas “Lil Pickers” Pickering trundled in without success, before the Skipper called upon the club’s “Eddie Everywhere”, Ash Gove.
What doesn’t he do? A few loopy left-arm likable but lethal line and length lollypops had them licking their lips only to be lured into lament as their luck didn’t last.
And with that Father Gove put an end to Seeley and the Greta bid for victory. Fern Vatiroyram (fist game for 24-25) and Karteek Boga (on YMCC debut) finished off the innings with Karteek claim two lower order wickets, with the last being comfortable taking by Lucas Pickering out on the Deep Fine Leg boundary with a minimum of fuss. Greta fell short by 48 runs, but “the Lakers” were efficient and clinical enough over the course of the day to do enough to accept the laurels.
Under 14 rams all tied up!
Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 5/76 drew with Wangaratta Magpies Black 7/76.
The under 14 Rams played in a heartstopper on Saturday morning. After being sent into bat on the magnificent Stan Hargreaves oval, the Rams lost 3 quick wickets before Lucas Pickering and Jordan Knight dug in and built an innings saving partnership.
Both lads worked hard, dug deep and punished some rare bad balls along the way.
After the departure of Pickering, Lach Cruikshank joined Knight and carried on punishing anything short or wide.
The boys scrapped their way to 76 which was a competitive total. With the ball, the Rams picked up a couple of early wickets before the Maggies batters formed a partnership and pushed towards the target.
Lucas Pickering again put his hand up when required and dried up the run rate.
In the end, it came down to the last ball… the maggies needed one run to win and the Rams needed a miracle.
Again Lucas Pickering provided the answer the Rams were looking for.
A perfect delivery that crashed into the top of off peg! A great game and a terrific finish.
U14 Girls narrowly miss win
City Colts 167 def Yarrawonga Mulwala 90.
Under 14s all girls cricket headed over to Bindal Avenue Oval to take on City Colts.
This week’s captain Elsie Lidgerwood won the bat flip and sent the opposition in, Lexi Richardson 2 wickets and Matilda Thackray one did most of the damage.
Tight bowling from Paige Bamfield and Stella Hill ensured it would be a close contest at the halfway mark.
After some words of wisdom from super coach Peter Brear, the batswomen set about the task at hand.
Contributions were spread across the board with some notable knocks from Bailey Richardson and the Lidgerwood sisters.
Bella Ward was the pick of the batters though with great timing and a majestic leg glance for four earning her this week’s award.
Unfortunately, a few run outs saw the girls narrowly missing out on the win, but none the less a tremendous effort with the highlight being the voice and fielding efforts.
Week off this Sunday then the girls have back to back home games where they look like achieve their first win of the season.
Under 14s Bulls show great teamwork
Benalla Bushrangers Blue 10/119 def Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls 9/74.
The boys turned up to another perfect gardens oval in Benalla full of confidence with the Smith boys opening the batting.
Mitchell and Jackson faced some fierce pace from the Benalla opening bowlers to help see off the new ball.
Mitchell had a defiant innings to be out for a well-made 8 runs. This saw skipper Darcy enter the crease looking to work hard for his side.
Darcy hit some nice shots before being given out LBW for 11.
Jackson Smith was hitting the ball well and was determined to stay in where Byron Dodd joined the opener in Smith.
They put on a good partnership and at drinks Yarra were confident of chasing down the total.
Soon after drinks Jacko Smith lost his wicket to Defazio. This caused a collapse for Yarra which saw them lose their next five wickets for two runs.
This was from some great bowling from young Xavier Defazio from Benalla who took 5 wickets for 0 runs from his left arm off spin. A name to remember for the future.
Byron made 10 then was bowled trying to chase the runs down. Michael Smith 5 not out and Trey Doric 7 runs, which was his first game of cricket, put on 15 for the last wicket.
To the sides credit every batter that went out was sitting on sideline cheering their teammates on who were batting and enjoying their success.
Another week of the boys getting some good cricket individually and as working as a side together.
Next week the boys head to Beechworth with another tough challenge ahead of them which they will look forward too.
Under 12 Lakers just get over line
Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers 2/102 def Wangaratta Magpies White 8/78.
The young under 12 Lakers were at home on Vic Park number 2 oval and the conditions were perfect for a great game of cricket against Wang Maggies white.
After being sent out to field first, the Lakers boys and girls toiled away hard for the first 7 overs without any luck.
The Wang Maggie’s top order put a high price on their wickets as the top 3 retired.
Billy Vagg was then thrown the ball with immediate success. He bowled his 2 overs for only 1 run and claimed 3 wickets.
This then triggered a bit of a collapse with Blake, Kirsty, Eamon, Todd and Will all collecting wickets.
The Lakers fielded well and reduced the Maggies to 78. Eamon and Billy then got the Lakers off to a flyer with the bat, both retiring.
Kirsty then came in and hit the ball to all parts of the boundary to also retire. Darcy got off the mark and batted really well until he eventually retired as did Todd and Issac.
Rory and Blake received a couple of jaffas from the bowler, and then Rosie and Will both batted determinedly to remain unbeaten at the end of the day as the Lakers got over the line by 24 runs.
Next week the Under 12 Lakers head to Benalla for the first of their 4 week stint over there to play 2 Benalla sides and 2 Delatite sides.
Under 12 Rams suffer first loss
Wangaratta Magpies Black 3/95 def Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams 7/85.
The Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams were defeated by Wangaratta Magpies Black at the North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Wangaratta Magpies Black won the toss and sent the Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams in to bat to start the round 5 action.
The Rams had to be patient early as the Magpies bowlers were very accurate. The Rams steadily lost early wickets, making scoring difficult.
Lachlan Brown was the pick of the Rams batsmen, compiling a well-made 24 before being dismissed trying to add runs to the total.
Hugo Bott and Layken Saunders occupied the crease and played some fine shots, along with Lincoln Ridley who continues to improve each week.
The Rams finished their innings with a score of 85 on the board, for the loss of 7 wickets.
The Wangaratta Magpies got off to a fast start, keeping the Rams fielders on their toes. The Doyle brothers in Paddy and Murphy stood out with the ball, taking one wicket each. They were well assisted by George Hill and Lachlan Brown who both bowled quite tidily. The Benalla Bushrangers finished their innings with a total of 3 for 95.
The Rams players will be keen to atone for this week in their next match against Benalla Bushrangers Red.
Under 12 Bulls claim victory
Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls 2/113 def Delatite Gold 8/74.
Playing Delatite in Benalla on neutral ground, the Bulls battered first with Benji Wollington and Finn O’Brien putting on a good first wicket partnership of 26 runs before Finn was out caught behind.
The team put on a total of 113 runs with Benji top scoring with 18, Finn 13, Charlie Carlyle 11 and Zane Rickhuss 10.
It was hard work for all the batters with the opposition bowlers bowling 43 extras with most deliveries off the wicket making it hard for the batters to score runs.
The Bulls then went out to field and did a great job defending their total restricting Delatite to a total of all out for 79 and only allowing 8 extras for the entire innings.
Zane Rickhuss, Ned O’Brien, Jack Hawking, Farley Simmons, Finn O’Brien and Benji Wollington all picked up a wicket each finishing the game just before it got too dark.