Out of the woods: Mooroopna’s Bella Woods steams in to send down a delivery during Sunday’s Goulburn Murray Cricket women’s match against Bamawm-Lockington United.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
After the previous weekend’s fixtures the forecast was that round nine of the women’s Goulburn Murray Cricket competition would be fascinating.
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Ultimately, every outcome ― in those fixtures that got played and the one that was not ― kept the top-four race as wide open as it had been almost all season.
All five leading contenders hosted less fancied opposition at the weekend except Nagambie (6-2), which received the points after Kyabram (4-3) forfeited.
Not that all four winners did it easily, by any means.
Mooroopna (7-0) remained firmly in control of its own destiny as the lone unbeaten outfit, but had to battle harder than anticipated.
In squeaking out an 11-run victory over Bamawm-Lockington United (2-6), the Cats found their offence constricted to a rarely-seen extent during a brilliant inaugural campaign.
Defending 97, Mooroopna was under siege early as BLU surged through a 34-run opening stand.
The Cats’ attack, led by Bella Woods’ pair of wickets, fiercely battled back to hold firm for a less glamorous, but nonetheless vital victory.
Survival: It was surprisingly tough going for Gemma Boyd’s Mooroopna side in staying unbeaten.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
It was generally smooth sailing around the grounds with the other top contenders, though.
Echuca Green (7-1) retained top spot and set a new 25-over score record in season 2023-24, blitzing Nathalia (2-6) to the tune of 2-241 after batting first.
No fewer than three Green batters retired not out, with skipper Jessica Cox’s 12 fours proving enough to win the game by themselves in a spectacular 195-run rout.
Katamatite (6-3) could have done the job much easier against bottom side Cooma (0-7), electing to bowl first, but providing almost half the Cooma tally of 70 through wides and no-balls.
Once again, though, leave it to Katrina Chapman to provide the offensive weapons when needed, with another powerful knock of 41 (seven fours) steering the Tigers home nine overs in advance.
Shepparton United (7-2) barely broke a sweat in coasting to another big win, this time over Rochester (1-7) at Princess Park.
Only three United women needed to don the helmet and pads to chase down the victory target of 68, with the rampant Mel Saunders (39 not out, seven fours) bringing her side over the line in a canter.
Contenders will collide when the competition resumes on January 7, with Mooroopna hosting Nagambie in the weekend’s biggest clash.
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