Berrigan MVCA B-grade 2025/26 premiers: (Back from left) Jeremy Packer, Jordan Swann, Fraser Haintz, Matt Whelan, Brendan Cameron; (Middle) Lachlan Pyle, Lachlan Packer, Andrew Parr, Graeme Parr; (Front) Troy Poynton, Luke Melville and Matt Ross.
Berrigan's MVCA B-grade grand final 2025/26 man of the match Luke Melville.
Murray Valley Cricket Association’s B-grade grand final saw Berrigan take on Barooga at Barooga.
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Winning the toss, the Saints had no hesitation on batting on a well-prepared wicket.
The Saints got off to a flying start, with opener Mathew Ross taking 13 runs off Lachie Sutton’s opening over.
The second over this trend continued with Ross’s opening partner Luke Melville taking eight runs off the other opening bowler Chris Goesch’s opening over.
This had an immediate impact on Barooga’s attack, with Sam Leigh and Kale Watkins both coming on with spin at both ends.
This didn’t bother Ross who continued to attack the bowling with the pair bringing up the 50 for the Saints in the 9th over.
Watkins struck the next over, claiming Ross caught in the deep for 37 from 31 balls, and the score was 1/56.
Lachlan Pyle joined Melville in the middle and the Saints attack on the Barooga bowling continued with Pyle finding the boundary multiple times.
The scoring rate raced to almost a run a ball before Pyle was trapped LBW by Leigh (1/31) for 22 with the Saints score at 2/93.
Troy Poynton was next in with Melville, with the two guiding the Saints past the 100 mark in the 19th over.
The two added 26 runs before Poynton was caught by Watkins in the slips off Sutton (1/45) for 17.
Andrew Parr was next in. The two batted past the 30 over mark, and it was in the 32nd over, Melville brought up his 50 off 83 balls with a four and then a single.
Parr was dismissed shortly later caught in the deep for 11 off Riley Adams (2/14) and the score was now 4/147 after 32 overs.
Brendan Cameron was the new man in, but Melville was shortly caught behind off Adams for a well played 55 off 86 balls which included nine fours, setting the Saints innings up.
Jordan Swann was next in and with Barooga quite defensive with players on the boundary, the two sprinted for every run.
They turned ones into twos and pinched singles when there was no run to be taken, putting pressure on the Barooga fielding.
The two added 36 runs to the Saints’ score for the 6th wicket, before Cameron was stumped off Watkins (2/39).
With two balls of the innings remaining, new batsman Jeremy Packer was run out coming back for his second run for one by Watkins.
The Saints pinched another two runs to finish with the score 7/196 after 40 overs, with Swann not out on 21 and Fraser Haintz not out on 0.
With a big score on the board, the Saints were eager to put early pressure on Barooga however missed catches went down early allowing Barooga’s opening pair of Jamie Stanyer and Ethan Bolvalina to get themselves set.
The score raced to 26 before Haintz struck, with Lachie Pyle catching Stanyer at short cover for eight.
Watkins was next in with Bovalina, who used Ross’ pace to find the boundary a number of times and to take Barooga’s score to 1/50 after 11 overs.
Bowling pressure mounted on Bovalina, who then mistimed a lofted drive off Haintz (2/24) who was caught by Poynton for 32 and the score was now 2/51.
Ben Lucas joined Watkins in the middle and the experienced pair went about absorbing balls and putting the bad ball away to the boundary for four.
The two batted until drinks, to have Barooga’s score at 2/83 after 20 overs.
Matt Whelan bowled straight after drinks with tidy figures of 0/28 off his eight overs.
Melville continued and Ross was brought back into the attack to up the bowling pressure on the Barooga pair.
Watkins and Lucas slowly continued with the same mindset taking the score to 100 after 25 overs, however run rate pressure was building. It was in the 27th over when Ross struck, removing Lucas caught at mid-on for 26.
The score was now at 3/106.
Sutton joined Watkins in the middle, and eventually made his way to 50 in the 29th over.
The Saints then picked up four quick wickets, with Melville (2/30) trapping Sutton LBW for eight.
In the next over, Swann (3/38) removed Watkins, caught behind by Andrew Parr, for 51 off 86 balls.
New batsman Chris Goesch was run out for one and the Sam Leigh was trapped LBW by Melville for a golden duck, and the Saints were on top at 7/132.
Nate Leith and Sam Poole added 14 runs before Leith’s stumps were shattered by Swann for six and then Ross clean bowled Poole for 9 to have Barooga 9/146.
Isaiah Benson and Flynn Griffiths were the two remaining batsman for Barooga, but Swann had Benson caught behind for four by Parr with Barooga all out for 152 in the 37th over.
Luke Melville was adjudged best afield for his effort with the bat and ball.
Luke Melville after his man of the match performance for Berrigan in the B-grade grand final.
Berrigan celebrate after winning the MVCA 2025/26 B-grade premiership.
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