Representative cricket is officially in full swing for the Goulburn Valley’s best and brightest prospects after Northern Rivers action kicked off at the weekend.
You couldn’t ask for a better start to the summer season for the local representatives, who had their first one-day hit out at under-18 and under-21 level in the Victorian Country Cricket League.
The under-18 meeting with Central Highlands at Eaglehawk on Sunday morning was littered with Cricket Shepparton successes.
Losing the toss hardly bothered the Rivers, who took their bowling assignment and got to work in no time flat.
Waaia’s Will Trower finished with team-best figures of 3-23 in setting a victory target of 131 before two other district juniors took the plaudits on offence.
Old Students’ Sam O’Brien opened — and, for that matter, happily closed — the batting with a superb display after claiming two catches in the field, while Zavier Davidson of Karramomus notched one as well.
O’Brien’s unbeaten efforts wound up yielding 78 from 57 balls with 12 fours, one of which made up the walk-off runs in less than 20 overs.
He was joined at the crease almost the entire way through by fellow Student Oscar Lambourn, who himself provided plenty of spark with 36 not out at better than a run a ball.
At under-21 level, Rivers tangled with South East Sharks at Kangaroo Flat and had to bowl first.
It was a tougher go on the track for the elder Rivers side, which had to chase down 233 as the pairing of Shepparton Youth Club United’s Jake Callow and Mooroopna’s Tasman Hall got to work.
Contributing 19 apiece as openers, they were followed later down the order by a solid knock from Central Park-St Brendan’s talent Keiran Hogeboom (35, four fours) and, curiously, Mooroopna import Ethan Baker.
It went down to the 100th and final over of the day, but Rivers would go two for two in pushing past a tough total to claim victory with five balls to spare.
While the under-18 Rivers will not play this coming weekend with a bye in the seven-team competition, the under-21 side will take on fellow round one winners Barwon Rockets at Kangaroo Flat this Sunday.