General News
23 January, 2025
Depth driving Kingower's winning streak
By GARY WALSH KINGOWER’S 129-run win over a youthful Boort Yando on Saturday highlighted why it is the team to beat in the Upper Loddon senior cricket competition. Batting depth and a fearsome bowling attack have taken the side to the top of the...
By GARY WALSH
KINGOWER’S 129-run win over a youthful Boort Yando on Saturday highlighted why it is the team to beat in the Upper Loddon senior cricket competition.
Batting depth and a fearsome bowling attack have taken the side to the top of the ladder before a two-day clash against Wedderburn Band that is likely to decide who will go into the finals at the head of the table.
Wedderburn was forced to forfeit against Arnold due to a lack of players, which saw the Band tumble into second place.
At Kingower, Boort Yando captain Brian Minogue won the toss and somewhat surprisingly decided to give his opponents the first hit.
Openers Matt Rowe and Will Deason, coming off a century partnership a week earlier, looked in ominous form and surged to 65 off 11 overs before a calling mix-up saw Rowe run-out by Deklan King for 34 off 30 balls.
That precipitated a collapse, with three wickets falling for just a single run as Deason was clean bowled by Blake Slatter for 31 and Kyle Simpson fell in the same over for a duck.
Kingower skipper Jayden Leach and Blake Pickles then began a fightback, taking the score to 95 before Leach was out for a restrained 16 off 25 balls.
If the Magpies thought they were into the tail, they were quickly reminded of Kingower’s batting strength, as Pickles hit 11 fours on his way to 66 from 60 balls.
He was supported by David Rose (24) and junior Tyler Murphy (23 off 12 balls) as the team pushed on to 5-198 before first-gamer Jake O’Flaherty pulled off a stunning hat-trick.
A late collapse of 3-1 saw Kingower finish on 8-199.
Boort Yando’s response got off to the worst possible start, with Alex Cockerell clean bowled first ball by Leach.
The Kingower captain was on a roll, and reduced the Magpies to 5-17, taking all five wickets.
Harry Weaver was a lone hand for Boort Yando, batting his way to 30 off 38 balls, before being ninth out with the score on just 51, falling to Rowe’s bowling.
The last wicket partnership between Gary Zanker and King added 19 – the second highest of the innings – before Zanker fell for a brave 16 to Deason’s first ball.
Leach’s 7-15 off seven overs with three maidens, was the obvious standout as the Magpies were all out for 70 in 20 overs.
Wedderburn dropped from top spot after forfeiting last Saturday’s game to reigning premiers Arnold.