A short-handed Rochester struggled to make runs in a heavy defeat to Nathalia in round four of the Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s competition.
Rochester won the toss at Nathalia Showgrounds and elected to send Nathalia in.
The innings started well for Rochy as Sarah Taylor sent Evie Hawks back to the sheds with the opening ball of the second over.
Taylor followed up with a tidy caught and bowled effort, dismissing Tracey Brereton four balls later.
Nathalia was 2-4 when Abby Favaro made her way to the crease, linking up with Jessica Daniel.
Daniel didn’t add much to the scoreboard before her retirement but held down her end well, while Favaro went on the attack, building Nathalia’s total before she too fell to Taylor, trapped in front for 22.
Shortly afterwards, Courtney Cunningham found herself at the crease and took her cue from Favaro’s performance, putting together 30 unbeaten from 26 deliveries to push Nathalia to 6-86 from its 20 overs.
Taylor shone among the Rochester bowlers with 3-12 from her four overs, while Miranda Crawford and Chelsea Griffiths also took wickets.
The Rochester run chase was never able to build much momentum.
Starting at a disadvantage being only able to field nine batters, wickets tumbled early and often to compound the visitor’s woes.
Rochy limped to an all-out 8-23 from 14.1 overs, the match going to Nathalia by 63 runs.
Favaro (3-4) and Cody Power (2-5) were the pick of the bowlers for the host.
The loss ends Rochy’s undefeated start to the competition after two wins in the opening rounds.
Rochester’s next assignment will be hosting Kyabram on Sunday, while Bamawm-Lockington United will come off the bye to face Nagambie at home.