Sport
5 January, 2023
Young Maryborough cricketers look for wins in junior interleague’s Country Week
It’s been a tricky start for Maryborough’s under 13 and under 15 teams as Junior Country Week got underway in the Central Highlands Region. With both teams navigating early byes, Maryborough’s two competing teams this week have each played one...
It’s been a tricky start for Maryborough’s under 13 and under 15 teams as Junior Country Week got underway in the Central Highlands Region.
With both teams navigating early byes, Maryborough’s two competing teams this week have each played one home game, with their under 13s playing against Gisborne White at Jubilee Oval on Tuesday afternoon, while the under 15s had a big task against Ballarat at Hedges Oval on Wednesday.
The under 13s were unable to defend 90 in their game against Gisborne White, despite a good start with the ball.
Maryborough were behind the eightball when they fell to 3/14 in the early stages of their batting innings, following the wickets of Thomas Grant, Thang Nguyen and Kolby Haley.
However, Brett Coon and Rory Bourke set about rebuilding their innings, putting on a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket. That all came to an end when Bourke was run out for 18, and when Coon was caught soon after for 24, Maryborough were back in trouble at 5/66.
They would eventually lose their final five wickets for 24 runs, as they were bowled out for 90 after 33.4 overs.
In response, the combination of Coon and Grant got Maryborough off to a good start, with Coon taking the wicket of Rhett Burnside, caught behind for a golden duck, before Grant left Gisborne White on 2/9 when he had Sam Wallace sky a ball to Nguyen, who still had to make significant ground to take the catch.
Gisborne White were able to respond when they put on a 41-run partnership for the third wicket, but Haley and Nguyen soon struck in quick succession to give Maryborough a chance, leaving Gisborne White at 4/51.
However, it was not to be their day, with Gisborne eventually making the runs they needed to take victory, finishing on 7/119 from their 40 overs.
Cruz Stevens would be Maryborough’s best performer with the ball, taking 2/5 from his four overs, while Haley finished with 1/2 off four overs. Coon, Grant, Nguyen and Elijah Tull were other wicket takers for Maryborough.
Maryborough’s under 15 team was gallant in their game against Ballarat, but were unable to prevent a 26-run defeat.
The combination of Sam Ross and Benjamin Grant got them off to a great start when they were able to remove Ned Murnane and Mako Soloman with the score on four.
But Ballarat would soon put together crucial partnerships to help get them ahead in the game. They were able to put on 26 for the third wicket, before 34 and 35-run stands for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively were able to help Ballarat put up a defendable total of 9/130 off their 45 overs.
Ross finished with 3/20 off eight overs, while Grant was economical with his bowling, finishing with 2/12 off his eight overs, which included four maidens.
In response, Maryborough were unable to find quick runs to get themselves off on the front foot. Elliot Cullinan was first to go with the score on one, before Hunter Kirzke followed soon after, leaving Maryborough on 2/10.
Lachie Condie and Jasper Trickey put on 17 for the first wicket before Trickey holed out, with Condie following soon after to a very good catch. Grant and Lachlan Roche came to the crease needing to put a significant partnership up to give Maryborough any chance at 4/28, and were able to put on 35 before Roche holed out.
Eventually, Maryborough would lose their remaining five wickets, but not without some fight. Grant would eventually top score with 30 runs, with Oliver Cassidy put on a quickfire 11.
They would eventually finish all out on 104 with just two balls remaining in their innings.
Maryborough has one pool game remaining in their under 13 and under 15 division, with the under 13s playing Ballarat White at Jubilee Oval yesterday afternoon, while the under 15s travelled to Camp Reserve to play Castlemaine.
The under 17 team will be waiting two more weeks to play their pool matches, but have already mapped out their path to glory, with two pool games at Hedges Oval against Castlemaine and Grampians respectively, before having to travel to Gisborne White for their final pool game.
