Sport
6 February, 2026
O'Flaherty's belting bat
BOORT Yando’s powerful batting lineup smashed its way to a dominant 4-218 against Wedderburn Band last Saturday.
The Magpies’ middle order took full toll of the Band’s attack on the first day of the teams’ two-day match, with the runs coming off 37 overs.
Jake O’Flaherty belted 51 off just 23 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes, before he retired not out.
His blistering partnership with Luke Boyd (53 off 34 balls, with 10 fours and a six) pushed the unbeaten Boort Yando juniors to a score the Band will be hard pressed to chase when the match resumes.
While the Wedderburn attack managed to contain the Magpies’ powerful top order – Owen Byrne (9), Jacob Malone (21) and Cooper Gooding (13) – the Boort Yando batting depth was on clear display.
Five players retired not out, including Samuel McClelland, who hit 21 with two fours batting at number seven.
Wedderburn’s bowlers toiled hard, with Blaz Cramp taking 2-51 from 10 overs to be the only multiple wicket taker.
Zane Polkinghorne (1-32) and Nate Turnbull (1-25) were the others to claim a scalp.
This is the last round of home-and-away matches, with the semi-finals to be played on February 14.
Boort Yando will meet the fourth-placed side – almost certainly Wedderburn – for a spot in the grand final.
BRIDGEWATER’S innings against Kingower on Saturday morning was a tale of two halves.
The young Bulls were slow to start in the face of excellent Gower bowling and had stuttered to just 32 runs off the first 21 overs.
Kingower skipper Morgan Lonza and his fellow opening bowler Ryder Smith were quick and accurate, and the Bridgewater top order was struggling for momentum.
But when Ned Wickham came to the crease, after Lonza had taken all three wickets to fall, the scene changed.
After a cautious start, Wickham blossomed, hitting three boundaries on the expansive Bridgewater oval surface on his way to 45 retired not out from 66 balls.
He and Nate Harrison, who compiled a patient 16 from 69 balls, put on an excellent partnership that led the way to a competitive total of 6-128 at the end of play in the two-day clash.
The Bulls added 96 runs in 22 overs after Wickham entered the fray, with Xavier Power adding a handy 17 to help boost the total.
Morgan Lonza’s 3-17 from 10 overs was a standout, while Smith’s 0-13 from his 10 overs was a master class in tight bowling.
Flynn Lonza, Heath Leach and Tahj Lamprell were the other wicket takers.
The match resumes on Saturday with Kingower taking the crease.
LADDER
Boort 45
Kingower 25
Bridgewater 15
Wedderburn 0