Sport
18 February, 2025
MDCA improve, but miss out on Country Week finals after Sunraysia loss
The Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) were unable to qualify for Melbourne Country Week finals, losing to Sunraysia by 34 runs.
The MDCA were heading into Thursday’s fixture with two victories against Hamilton and South West and a loss to Mornington Peninsula under their belt, meaning their finals chances pivoted around the result of their final game.
A bonus point victory against Sunraysia would’ve booked the MDCA a grand final appearance and promotion to Melbourne Country Week’s Provincial division, while a regular win would have put the MDCA in the third-place playoff.
With the MDCA once again tasked with bowling first, Max Jackson was given the new ball in the hopes of making some early inroads.
It only took him three balls to grab the opening wicket, with Alex Cook making a great diving catch at gully to remove Jason Morrison.
After a 57-run partnership between Liam Naylor and Riley Jobson brought Sunraysia to 1/62, the MDCA bowling attack would get a double breakthrough in back-to-back overs thanks to Beaufort duo Jayden Scotland and Joel Pymer.
Club teammate Lachlan Oddie and Laane’s Daniel Romeo joined in the fun soon thereafter, leaving the game in the balance at 6/144.
However, a superb 87-run partnership between Musa Ilyas and Shaun Mathews, including a run-a-ball 82 from Ilyas, allowed Sunraysia to finish on 7/241 after their 50 overs.
Oddie was the pick of the bowlers for the MDCA, finishing with 2/23 from 10 overs.
While a target of 242 looked to be a challenging task, the MDCA certainly knew it was possible, making 254 in their 96-run victory against Sunraysia last season.
However, their run chase didn’t start as they hoped, losing the wickets of Tom Hannett, Sam Bartlett, Kamaljot Romana and Regan Goundry for only 32.
Cook and Jackson looked to spin momentum back in the MDCA’s favour, but they too were sent back to the pavilion with the MDCA looking out of the contest at 6/73.
Needing 169 runs with 29 overs and four wickets in hand, the MDCA looked for Oddie and Zach Graham to stage a late comeback.
The pair were up for the task — their 88-run partnership showcased both batters’ skill and gave the MDCA a fighting chance at victory.
Those chances diminished after Oddie’s remarkable innings came to an end on 68, with the MDCA still needing 80 from 14 overs.
Graham and Romeo did their best to keep the run chase going with a 30-run partnership, but they were also dismissed, leaving the MDCA at 9/192 needing 50 with 40 balls remaining.
Pymer and Liam Hurse tried to chip away, but the run chase was a bridge too far, as Hurse was the last dismissal with the MDCA 34 runs short.
Despite the loss, the MDCA continued to build off their return to Melbourne Country Week and proved themselves as a finals contender, improving to sixth.
Oddie led the way for the MDCA with the bat and ball, scoring the most runs (103) and taking the most wickets (seven).