Sport
22 November, 2025
Henry’s full of dazzling heroics
A DAZZLING solo effort from Arnold’s Henry McCullough was not quite enough to get the Redbacks home in a thriller against ladder leaders Boort Yando in Upper Loddon senior cricket.
Opener McCullough belted 77, with 11 boundaries and two sixes, of his side’s 8-122 from 35 overs, dominating every partnership to be the team’s last player dismissed. The next-best score was Michael Dale’s nine.
The Magpies, in response, crept past the Redbacks total in the final over of the day, finishing on 9-124.
Two youngsters and a veteran got Boort Yando across the line.
Cooper Gooding came to the crease with the score at a perilous 4-41, which soon became 5-47.
But club stalwart Brian Minogue joined Gooding in a 40-run partnership before Minogue fell for 24.
With the score on 97, Gooding’s was the sixth wicket to fall, with the young star making a team-high 26.
In a nail-biting finish, Garry Zanker was out for one, with three runs needed and the last man at the crease.
But a fine effort from Jake O’Flaherty – like Gooding, doubling up from the juniors earlier in the day – saw the Magpies home.
O’Flaherty (23 not out) hit a four to take Boort Yando past the Redbacks, with number 11 Owen Byrne at the other end.
Dale was the best of the bowlers, taking 2-17 from seven overs.
Ben Metelmann (2-20) and Flynn Lock (2-23) also took multiple wickets.