SRP Mud Dogs notch triumph over Jarvis Delahey Crushers in first round of GVBBL four

The Mud Dogs chased down Crushers’ total of 155 in the 18th over, oozing composure at the death as mentioned by captain Tyler Larkin.

“We bowled really, really well, everyone sort of did their bit there,” Larkin said.

“With the batting side of things, we probably made hard work of it, but it was just good to see a few boys get us home with some cool heads at the end there.”

Sent into bat, the Crushers lost Ethan Brookes and Jake Klemm cheaply, while opener Cameron Hemp got down to business.

The Prahran star was in top form with the blade, blitzing eight boundaries on his way to 40 before passing the torch on to Waaia import Reinhardt Engler.

Engler pulled off a series of improvised lap shots mixed in with a pair of monster sixes, raising his bat only to be restrained on 61 as a mistimed swing found a fielder’s hands.

The Crushers reached 8-155 at the end of 20 overs, a par score on a quick wicket.

Larkin’s lot had a reasonably fast start, but at 3-47 after 25 balls, the Mud Dogs needed an anchor.

Enter Jai Lemire, Carlton’s wicketkeeper-bat fantastic.

The gloveman danced down the wicket and roofed one off Brookes’ bowling, sending his teammates milling around the sheds ducking for cover.

While Lemire plugged away, Rhiley Lau also attempted to go big and creamed one to cover, taking an elite catch from Dylan Klemm to end his innings in its infancy.

Two overs later it was deja vu, with Larkin smoking a full toss into Klemm’s palms at his cover station to bring Taylor Beard to the crease.

Beard, who had blasted 74 not out and 80 for Sandhurst in the three days prior, kept the runs ticking over alongside Lemire to edge Mud Dogs nearer to the Crushers’ score.

When Lemire departed for 45, Beard (38 not out) and Ethan Baxter (21 not out) dragged their side over the line in a stylish sixth-wicket partnership.

There was much to like about the Mud Dogs’ tempered batting, best displayed by their two highest scorers on the day.

“Jai’s a class above. He’s got a Vic second XI game tomorrow and you can just see he’s got more time than most players do,’’ Larkin said.

“And Taylor Beard just does it year in, year out. He just knows his game really well and he assesses situations in a game better than most other players.

“So (I’m) really happy with their performances.”

Lastly, Larkin was all for the league’s return, praising the format with the tournament back for its fourth season.

“Cricket Shepparton specifically, they don’t have any rep teams any more, so this is as close as we’re going to get,” Larkin said.

“I think this is the way forward with playing the best level of cricket we can without playing for our competition.

“I definitely think it’s a good concept moving forward.”