Sport
3 December, 2024
MDCA kicks off senior representative campaign with a seven-wicket win over Grenville in Sharp Shield
The Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) are warming up for Melbourne Country Week, taking a largely dominant seven-wicket victory over the Grenville Cricket Association at Goldfields Reserve to maintain their hold on the Sharp Shield.
While Grenville hosted the game, they chose Beaufort as a largely neutral location, with their turf wicket providing an ideal opportunity to prepare for their own potential return to Country Week in 2025.
With plenty of rain on Saturday, Beaufort worked hard to provide what ended up being a pitch which had plenty for both bowler and batsman, while the outfield was also in spectacular condition, all things considered.
All that being said, the MDCA won the toss and captain Sam Bartlett elected to bowl first.
With plenty of options at his disposal, Bartlett elected to give Beaufort’s Jayden Scotland and Colts’ Max Jackson the first crack at Grenville’s openers.
Early on, both bowlers would hit the mark superbly, and restricted Grenville to just 11 runs in the first five overs.
It was Scotland who delivered first up, with Ned Uren hitting a ball straight to the arms of Kamaljot Romana, who took a sharp catch at gully.
Soon, Jackson would have his moment, and gave the MDCA complete control when he took two wickets in two deliveries.
He would trap Shaun McArthur in front for LBW, before clean-bowling Xavier Coutts to leave Grenville teetering on 3/23.
The pressure was relentless from the MDCA.
After Scotland and Jackson got their crack throughout the first 12 overs, Regan Goundry and Liam Hurse were the next two options called upon, and both continued on the work that was set up by the opening duo, working well together at both ends.
In particular, it was Goundry who was really catching the eye, proving to be extremely difficult for Grenville’s batting lineup to score off.
Goundry would be rewarded with two wickets as well — first, he would clean bowl Chase Dummett, who had made a gritty 19, before doing the same to James Munro.
At the halfway point of the innings, the MDCA had restricted Grenville to 5/45, with Goundry’s six-over spell yielding 2/4, with four maidens. Hurse applied the pressure at the other end, conceding 0/13 off six overs, while Jackson had 2/15 and Scotland 1/18 off their six overs.
After the resumption, it was Andrew Doolan and Patrick Graham who were frustrating the MDCA to an extent, staying at the crease for a long period of time.
Crucially, the MDCA were doing enough to restrict the duo from making bulk runs, with Bartlett calling on spinners Dean Nalder, Alex Cook and Romana during this period.
It took until the 35th over for a breakthrough, with Graham skying a ball straight to Hurse between mid-off and long-off for 28.
Not long after, Doolan’s stand was over, run out by Romana for a fighting 31.
Some big hitting from Aidan Graham ensured Grenville would pass 100, but he too would go out not long after for 13, bowled by Romana, while Jackson finished off a terrific afternoon’s job with his third wicket, luring Brad Adams into a shot straight into the arms of Tom Alexander at long off.
Grenville’s 45 overs finished with them 9/122, with the MDCA needing 123 to get the job done at around 2.7 runs an over.
Jackson finished with 3/20 off his eight overs, the best of the afternoon.
It was the two Toms — Hannett and Alexander — who would get first crack at Grenville’s bowlers.
Hannett looked comfortable early on and took to the Beaufort pitch well, while Alexander was getting into his groove.
Together, the duo made 32 for the first wicket, but Hannett was first to go thereafter, bowled by Adams for 12.
Romana joined Alexander at the crease and immediately looked comfortable, hitting a couple of good shots, but he too was brought undone by a spectacular catch at short leg for six.
Adams was on a hattrick when he trapped Lachlan Oddie in front the very next ball, but Bartlett would negotiate and nullify that threat with a straight bat.
From there, Alexander and Bartlett simply got to work.
Alexander was incredibly comfortable and, in essence, was seeing the ball very well — many of his shots coming from the middle of the bat.
Bartlett was also settling in very well, and together, the duo were cruising.
Drinks were taken at the 20th over, with Maryborough needing 30 runs to get.
In the first over after the drinks period, Alexander brought up a well-deserved 50 — his first in Australia, playing with a poise which suggested he would be up for the challenge against high-quality opponents.
The game would be a wrap within 25 overs for the MDCA, chasing down their target comfortably.
Alexander finished unbeaten on 64, while Bartlett was unbeaten on 25.
Adams was the only real threat, finishing with 3/25 off seven overs.