Sport
Saturday Sundries | A middle order maestro and an opener who missed the memo feature in lower grade cricket highlights
Saturday Sundries are all the extra highlights from the weekend’s lower grade cricket — from the top run-scorer to the best bowling figures and anything else of interest from across the district’s grounds.
To make sure we don’t miss any classic moments, why not message Shepparton News Sport on social media or email us at sport@sheppnews.com.au
There was a rare shortage of highlights — ones that pop off the page, at least — when trawling the grades this week, but we think we’ve managed to tack together a respectable list of Sundries for your reading pleasure.
News photographer Megan Fisher was behind the lens for the D-grade match between Karramomus and Pine Lodge and the E-grade game between Karramomus and Euroa.
Image 1 of 7
Karramomus’ Jaxan McDonald winds up a crafty cut shot. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 7
Pine Lodge’s Xavier Van Taarling hurls it in from the hats. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 7
Pine Lodge bowler Ashton Van Taarling puts everything into this delivery. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 7
Karramomus’ Casey Smith rolls the arm over on the hard wicket. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 7
Karramomus wicket keeper Billy Keat tosses the ball to a fielder. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 7
Euroa’s Cooper Goodall sees a ball whisk past the edge of his bat. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 7
Karramomus’ Callum Thornton pitches the ball up on the batter’s toes. Photo by Megan FisherShepherd’s feeling crook
Be a shepherd, not a sheep.
While the old adage encourages individuality and leadership over conforming, one Nagambie E-grader would be kicking himself that he deviated from the norm on Saturday.
Four of the Lakers’ top five raised the bat as the side posted 6-340 against Mooroopna and, unfortunately, for Keenan Shepherd, he was the unlucky outlier.
The Nagambie opener crashed out for 16, while teammates Jayden Oats (60), Jason Snelling (74), Bo Harrison (85) and Brock Boddington (62 not out) rained hell on Mooroopna.
A special mention goes to Harrison, who whacked his 85 off 33 balls at a strike rate of 257.6.
No Maidens here
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Michael Clarke, Ian Maiden?
The first two examples garnered world fame due to their penchant for punching runs in the middle order, but a lesser-known D-grade number five went big on Saturday.
Maiden, of Shepparton Youth Club United, loosened the shackles to smack an unbeaten 108 during his side’s nine-run victory over Mooroopna.
What’s more, he didn’t muck around in the middle.
Maiden minced his total in 71 balls in a true stand and deliver cameo, with 82 of those runs arriving in boundaries (10 fours, seven sixes).
From a bowler’s perspective, there weren’t many maidens when Maiden was at the crease.
Fast game’s a good game
This season, the S J Perry Shield has become renowned for quick games.
For example, take Northerners’ win over Murchison in round five when Tim Brett took 8-0 in one of the craziest bowling displays seen in Cricket Shepparton’s history.
And, while it wasn’t quite the same as the Jets’ 41-ball in-and-out heist job, on Saturday, Karramomus managed to beat Pine Lodge with enough time to duck home and watch the first session on day two of the Australia-India Test.
The Bloods ripped through the Lodgers for 61 in 21.2 overs and subsequently chased down the runs in 17.4 overs, meaning the game was won and done in less than a full innings.
Who said cricket takes too long?
Eagle out for Blood
As mentioned in the preamble, highlights among Cricket Shepparton’s lower grades were a bit thin this week.
And so, the spotlight turned to the juniors.
Only eight overs of play took place in the under-14 B-grade match between Karramomus Brown and Katandra, but it was enough time for Jack Poyner to make a name for himself.
The young Eagle had a taste for Blood in the third over, collecting a triple-wicket maiden and eventually finishing with figures of 4-3 off three overs.
Just imagine what Poyner could’ve produced if the game ran its course.