Sport
28 January, 2025
Kirton Shield campaign draws to a close with win
The Maryborough District Cricket Association’s (MDCA) Under 17 representative team completed their Kirton Shield campaign in style on Thursday, beating Grenville by 107 runs.
The result vaulted the MDCA into third, finishing in the same position as last year’s competition even with the additions of Grenville and Grampians.
Being sent in to bat at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve after losing the toss, the MDCA found themselves in a precarious position at 5/42.
Enter Elliot Cullinan and Thang Nguyen.
The pair showed surgical precision in dissecting the Grenville field, combining for a quickfire 71-run partnership which set the table for the MDCA to register a defendable score.
After Cullinan made 58 and Nguyen made 36, their teammates continued their fine hitting with Cooper Mark, Oliver Cassidy and Keegan Doherty all making handy 20s.
That left the MDCA with a total of 215 from their 50 overs, providing a platform to grab their first win of the campaign.
They grabbed that chance without hesitation, piling on constant pressure with their line, length and fielding.
After an opening wicket from Cassidy, Cooper Cahill benefitted from the team’s efforts, claiming two wickets in three balls to set the wheels in motion for an MDCA victory.
Cahill would grab another wicket to finish with figures of 3/15 off 8.4 overs, while Brett Coon, Tate Williams and Lachlan Roche would all claim two wickets for the MDCA, as they bowled Grenville out for 108.
Cullinan and Nguyen finished in the top 10 for runs scored during the league phase of the competition, while Cahill and Coon were top 10 in most wickets taken.
Cahill and Nguyen were awarded the joint Player of the Junior Community Competition for MDCA for their contributions.
Ballarat and Gisborne will once again battle it out for the Kirton Shield this Saturday, with Ballarat hoping to defend their crown.