Craig the king in opening round of GVBBL Fantasy

By Max Stainkamph

Jan 11, 2021

It was a bumper opening round of Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League cricket, featuring massive hits, tight finishes and even a hat-trick.

But it was also a bumper opening round of GVBBL Fantasy, which is up and running again for 2021.

Cobram Panel Works Panthers’ Jack Craig did it with bat and ball on Sunday, and top-scored with a whopping 95 points.

Craig took three wickets and hit 30 runs, while also nabbing a catch, and his teammate Andrew Hogan's 68 runs and a catch left him with 83 points.

Hurley's Hotel Hounds’ Dylan Cuttriss had the third-best score of the day with 56, ahead of SRP Mud Dogs’ wicketkeeper Keegan Armstrong 51.

Joel Brett, Mitch Troy, Paul Newman, Ben Fulford and Peter Cassidy all finished in the 40s, and were popular selections in GVBBL Fantasy.

It was the sides which made Craig skipper who did the best on the day, with ladder-leader The GOAT Squad — coached by Panthers skipper Matt Jaensch — making the most of some insider knowledge on Hogan's and Craig's form.

Did having Craig captain influence Jaensch's decision to throw the all-rounder the ball in the final over? We may never know.

He leads the competition by a nostril, with Jockeys 11 four points behind him and The News' own Aydin Payne tied with Lachie Sutton in third, who scored 363 despite having different sides.

It's not too late to join GVBBL Fantasy — send your team through to sport@sheppnews.com.au before 10am on Sunday to take part.

TOP 15

1. The GOAT Squad — Matt Jaensch — 476

2. Jockeys 11 — Paul McInness — 472

3. Dragon Cass-idy's Majors — Aydin Payne — 363

3. Lachie Sutton — 363

5. Josh Pearce — 359

6. Wright Said Fred — Ron Anderson — 346

7. Choir of Eckard Knocks — Tyler Maher — 336

8. The Slack Pack — Ron Holland — 328

9. The Overthrows — Max Stainkamph — 324

10. Cobram Kai — Mark Haberfield — 314