In the first meeting since the BDCA’s five-wicket triumph in November at Deakin Reserve, the hosts dialled up the pressure in a comprehensive nine-wicket mauling in the return fixture, making it three wins from three games since the fixture resumed in January last year.
While the willow proved the deciding factor in the previous two encounters, this time it was the Kookaburra that did the talking, this time in the hands of Strathfieldsaye’s Savith Weerasinghe.
Shepparton’s batters had no answer for the BDCA spinner, tearing through the visitors’ line-up with 6-17 after Taylor Beard’s twin strikes of Jordan Cleeland and Cade Mueller early in the first innings.
Mitch McGrath (18) and Oscar Lambourn (15) set about steadying the ship but both holed out at the hands of Weerasinghe after getting Cricket Shepparton to 2-52.
In the six overs following Lambourn’s dismissal, they lost 5-11 in a systematic dismantling of the middle order, Ben Woods’ watchful 22 runs off 64 deliveries helping Cricket Shepparton sputter to 103 off 40 overs.
It was never going to be enough against an experienced BDCA line-up.
The hosts made light work of the chase, needing just 13 overs as Thomas Starr smashed 65 off 43 balls and Ash Gray contributed 28 in a commanding victory.
Karramomus spinner Zac Groombridge was the sole wicket-taker for Cricket Shepparton, trapping Gray LBW.
Despite the heavy defeat, with talk of expanding the representative series to include other associations, Shepparton will be determined to break their duck against the BDCA when they next meet.
THE GAME
Cricket Shepparton 103 (Ben Woods 22, Savith Weerasinghe 6-17, Taylor Beard 2-20) def by Bendigo District Cricket Association 1-106 (Thomas 65 not out, Ash Gray 28, Zac Groombridge 1-18)
