The representative cricket season is winding down as finals loom, and a raft of locals have done the association proud when donning their region’s colours in the white ball format.
On February 8, four Cricket Shepparton youngsters trekked to Swan Hill to represent Northern Rivers Under-15 All Stars against Mallee Murray Suns.
Callum Thornton and Jackson Crouch (Karramomus), Anthony Evans (Kyabram) and Zac Gale (Old Students) took to the park, and though they didn’t get the chocolates, each offered a strong contribution in the valiant 36-run defeat.
Murray Mallee batted first and meandered to 112 off 48.4 overs as Thornton conjured a wizardous spell of 4-11 off eight overs to help restrict the Suns.
Crouch (2-16) and Evans (1-12) were also tidy with the pill, giving the Rivers boys something tangible to chase.
But as it had been in the first innings, the wicket proved a tricky one.
Opening the batting, Gale made solid inroads but as partnerships shattered around him, the Students product eventually holed out on 11 off 42.
Crouch dug in for a gritty six off 19 balls before being run out, while Evans (one not out) and Thornton (one) could do little to affect the result batting at 10 and 11 respectively.
The quartet now returns to Cricket Shepparton’s junior ranks, which enters its finals series this week.
Meanwhile, a Nagambie jet was busy tearing it up in the J G Craig Shield final.
Flynn Bush suited up for Brunswick in the decider versus Oakleigh, providing a steady hand during the Wicks’ 35-run triumph at Warrawee Park.
The teen Laker came in at first drop and crafted 13 off 33 balls before his off stump ball was spun off, helping Brunswick to 9-129 from its 45 overs.
Oakleigh was then skittled for 94, sealing Bush a piece of major metro silverware to add to his trophy cabinet.
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