Bamawm-Lockington United endured a tough match-up with reigning premier Echuca in round one of the Goulburn Murray Cricket McMahon Shield season.
Batting first, Echuca made a strong start to its innings with an opening partnership of 78 runs between Brendan Moyle and Curtis Townrow before Luke Thompson made the breakthrough for the Lions.
Alex Wagner and Jeremy Felmingham helped keep the clamps on Echuca momentarily, but the runs continued to trickle with overseas recruit Ewan Davidson top-scoring with 57 not out.
Thompson struck again while Shannon Bish chimed in with two wickets, but a cameo of 36 from Aidan Young headlined a well-rounded batting performance as Echuca posted 8-243.
Werner Brand’s 42 runs and Liam Hamilton’s 25 laid the groundwork for the run chase, but outside of Kade Pearse’s 12, no other batsman could reach double figures as Young (3-9), Rylea Jones (2-19) and Charlie Hinks (2-23) helped bundle the Lions out for 102 in the 29th over, sealing a 141-run win to start the season.
The big win ensured Echuca goes into next week’s clash against Rochester on top of the ladder.
Meanwhile, BLU will be hoping to rebound from defeat quickly when it faces Nondies-Cohuna.
The game
Echuca v Bamawm Lockington United
ECHUCA INNINGS
Brendan Moyle c Luke Thompson b Alex Wagner 38
Curtis Townrow b Luke Thompson 47
Matthew Hinks c Gregory Pearse b Jeremy Felmingham 9
Kobyn James lbw b Luke Thompson 18
Aidan Young c Werner Brand b Liam Hamilton 36
Ewan Davidson not out 57
Rylea Jones lbw b Shannon Bish1
Charlie Hinks c Luke Thompson b Shannon Bish11
Lachlan Hogan run out (Werner Brand) 12
Extras (7w, 6lb, 1b) 14
Total: 8-243
Overs: 45.0.
Bowling: Shannon Bish 8-1-39-2, Werner Brand 8-0-46-0, Jeremy Felmingham 9-1-47-1, Liam Hamilton 6-0-22-1, Luke Thompson 7-0-40-1, Alex Wagner 7-0-40-1.
BLU INNINGS
Liam Hamilton c Kobyn James b Rylea Jones 25
Kade Pearse c Brendan Moyle b Matthew Hinks 12
Werner Brand c Curtis Townrow b Aidan Young 42
Declan Pearse c Lachlan Hogan b Charlie Hinks 3
Regis Chakabva c&b Charlie Hinks 0
Luke Thompson c Brendan Moyle b Simon Maddox 6
Josh Cairns run out 5
Gregory Pearse b Aidan Young 3
Jeremy Felmingham b Aidan Young 0
Shannon Bish b Rylea Jones 1
Alex Wagner not out 0
Extras (3w, 2lb) 5
Total: 102
Overs: 28.1.
Bowling: Charlie Hinks 4-0-23-2, Matthew Hinks 5-1-14-1, Rylea Jones 5.1-0-19-2, Summit Kingar 6-0-23-0, Simon Maddox 3-0-12-1, Aidan Young 4-0-9-3.
Echuca won by 141 runs.