Sport
22 January, 2024
MDCA just miss out on Kirton Shield final after a thrilling week of cricket
Although the MDCA ultimately missed out on a Kirton Shield finals appearance with a loss to Ballarat on Thursday, it doesn’t mask what has been an excellent week for the group, who broke through with two wins. After defeating Castlemaine and...
Although the MDCA ultimately missed out on a Kirton Shield finals appearance with a loss to Ballarat on Thursday, it doesn’t mask what has been an excellent week for the group, who broke through with two wins.
After defeating Castlemaine and Gisborne last Monday and Tuesday respectively, the MDCA needed victory against Ballarat to lock in a finals appearance on Friday.
In the early stages, Joe Lovel and Cooper Cahill were guiding the group well.
Lovel took the opening wicket of Connor Maggi, caught by Cooper Mark for seven.
Soon, Lovel would have a second, with Gibson Paxman’s edge falling into the hands of Cahill, who parried the ball to wicketkeeper Lachie Condie.
When Cahill collected the wicket of Lachlan Coutts for four, and Sam Ross picked up Kylan Jans for one after hitting a ball straight to Lachlan Bursill, the MDCA had Ballarat 4/32.
But Darcy Aitken and Axel Morton got to work for Ballarat, and would soon put on 58 runs for the fifth wicket.
It was a partnership which put Ballarat back in control, but Lovel was back on the scene, getting the wicket of Morton for 29, before shortly after finishing a supreme 10-over spell with the wicket of Aitken for 42 to leave Ballarat teetering again at 6/98.
But Lachlan McPhan and James Parkinson would soon frustrate the MDCA, putting on a 32-run stand to ensure that Ballarat would be getting a decent total for the MDCA to chase.
Jasper Trickey got McPhan’s wicket for 13 by bowling him, but Angus Jones was another source of frustration for the MDCA as the tail was wagging.
Eventually, the MDCA would bowl out the tail, with Harrison Kurzke getting the wicket of Jones for 32, Cahill running out Parkinson for 23 and Mark getting the final wicket.
Lovel starred with 4/19 off 10 overs, while Cahill, Kurzke, Ross, Mark and Trickey took a wicket apiece.
The MDCA needed quick runs to chase down a target of 180, but it wasn’t forthcoming.
After putting eight runs on for the first wicket, Ballarat had the important wicket of Lovel for one, before Condie was next to go just a few balls later.
When Sam Thomson and Kurzke went for one and five respectively, the MDCA were in trouble at 4/11.
Mark tried to steady the ship with Lachlan Bursill, but Ballarat’s constant pressure was yielding wickets.
Bursill was next to go for one, and leading runscorer for the MDCA, Cahill, also departed soon after for one.
Mark and Elliot Cullinan soon put on a 14-run stand, but a fighting innings from Mark would soon end on 15, as Ballarat looked to quickly finish off the tail.
Trickey went for a duck to leave the MDCA 8/33, but some good late hitting from Cullinan and Ross gave the MDCA their best partnership of the day, putting on 16 runs.
Ross eventually departed for eight, before Cullinan was the last wicket for 20 as they were bowled out for 60, losing by 119 runs.
Coupled with Gisborne’s equally big win over Castlemaine, it meant that the MDCA missed out on net quotient and run rate for a chance to play in the final, which was ultimately won by Ballarat.
However, it was a successful carnival for the MDCA when all is said and done, with two wins to give themselves a chance, including their terrific win over Gisborne, showing that they are more than capable of holding their own against the best young cricketers in the region.