GMC ǀ Echuca does double in action-packed weekend

By James Kleeman

Jan 19, 2022

Beard goes bang: Another Taylor Beard batting masterclass helped Echuca to a weekend double in Goulburn Murray Cricket action.

After a commanding win over Nondies Cohuna on Saturday, ladder-leader Echuca took down Kyabram Fire Brigade in a double-header weekend of Goulburn Murray Cricket.

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It was the only team to record dual wins across the two days, with all other teams having a mostly mixed weekend.

A Taylor Beard and Charlie Hinks partnership to the tune of 132 runs would put their side in good stead against Nondies-Cohuna, as it raced to a formidable 5-222.

Echuca’s bowlers wasted no time in reply, tearing through the home side’s batting order as it limped to 97.

Beard backed up his terrific batting display with a clinical showing with bat and ball in the grand final rematch at Kyabram Fire Brigade on Sunday.

Flames’ bats Miller Griffiths (44) and Anthony DePasquale (39) produced important runs to steer Fire Brigade to 169, amidst a bowling blitz from Beard, who finished with figures of 6-33.

He would step up again with the bat to whack a quick-fire 75, Echuca finishing on 6-170 with two overs to spare.

Fire Brigade had put its season back on track the previous day, when it overcame bottom side Echuca South thanks to some clinical bowling from Jackson Barnett and Scott Morris.

The visitors were toppled for 66, with Barnett and Morris taking the lion’s share of the wickets.

Griffiths and DePasquale didn’t waste time in producing the winning runs, finishing on 3-67 after 11.1 overs.

Leitchville-Gunbower recorded its second win of the season, toppling Cooma for 72, after some comprehensive bowling from Simon Tatt (3-16), Austin Windridge (2-0) and James Keath (2-12).

The Two Blues bounced back on Sunday, with their batsmen coming up with the goods.

Ever consistent Jake Kelly put on 44, an unbeaten 35 from Brad Power and handy knocks from Sam Langley (22) and opener Liam Scopelliti (20) would see them surge to 7-176 to round out their innings.

In reply, South’s bats came under fire from the gallant Two Blues’ bowlers, with Cooper Fawcett striking to take 5-9 off 6.4 overs, handing them another hefty defeat.

Bamawm-Lockington United had a weekend to forget, going down to Moama on Saturday, then narrowly missing out to Rochester, which snagged a one-wicket victory.

This weekend Fire Brigade meets BLU, Cooma heads to Nondies-Cohuna, Moama will host Rochester, while Echuca takes on Echuca South in the derby.