Tocumwal’s C-grade Murray Valley Cricket Association side travelled to Nathalia on Saturday, hoping to get a game in after a wet morning.
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The captains met at 12.30pm for an assessment of the field, and decided to wait until 1.30pm to make a call due to a high level of moisture around the pitch and run up area.
At 1.30pm, a hesitant call was made to start play at 2pm. Some grass clippings were put in place, and the game was reduced to 30 overs each.
Tocumwal lost the toss and were sent in to bat.
Brandon Meloury and Hayden White opened for Toc and had to work hard for every run, with a wet outfield and some good bowling.
At drinks, Tocumwal had 41 runs on the board with no loss.
A foundation was there to accelerate, but that was easier said than done.
White fell in the 20th over for a hard earned 28.
Declan Cameron (1) came in next and tried to accelerate the run rate, but was caught at mid on.
Shaun Goldman came out next and put the bad ball away, making a great 20 off 18.
Aaron Shepherd made nine before being removed.
Meloury batted the entire innings, making a hard earned 35 not out.
With 108 on the board, Tocumwal knew a tight bowling and fielding performance was required.
The away side started well with two chances going against Tocumwal in the first over.
Toc were keeping it very tight, with Nathalia held to nine runs in the first six overs.
In the ninth over, it was Cameron who got the first breakthrough with a fantastic catch from Goldman in gully.
The next oversaw Adam Hughes snag their second wicket, with Goldman taking another catch.
After a few more tight overs, Cameron claimed his second wicket.
At drinks, Tocumwal had Nathalia at 3/38. They knew they were right in this game, but had to continue to fight hard and not let them get on top.
After drinks, Amal Aji joined the party with a catch in cover from Lachie McDonald.
Goldman was thrown the ball and broke through with an edge straight into Meloury’s gloves.
Aji removed one of the Nathalia captains by knocking his off stump clean out of the ground.
In the next over, McDonald got a runout. Tocumwal knew they were on top, but couldn’t get ahead of themselves.
Lachie McDonald picked up a wicket in the 26th over, leaving Nathalia at 8/79.
Goldman brought the ninth wicket with a fantastic catch by young Max White.
The final wicket came in the next over, with a run out by Hayden White.
Tocumwal bowled Nathalia out for 81, winning the game by 27 runs.
Goldman had a fantastic game, making a quickfire 20 runs, two wickets and two catches.
Meloury anchored the Tocumwal batting innings with a crucial and deliberate knock.
Tocumwal’s under-17s were at home against Katunga on Friday night.
It was their first one day game this year. Toc won the toss and chose to bat.
Archie Chellew got the home side off to a quick start, but unfortunately, they lost Declan Cameron early.
James Winn then came to the crease, but the side then lost Chellew for 11, Tom White for six and James Winn for 10.
Max Thorburn and Chase Dickins steadied the ship.
With Dickins out, Lucas Baron came in with a quickfire 24 runs.
Tocumwal made 87 off their 25 overs.
It was then Tocumwal’s turn with the ball, and they needed early wickets.
Once again, Lucas Baron and Tom White delivered.
Tocumwal had Katunga 2/3.
Katunga rallied and Tocumwal tried hard for wickets but it wasn’t enough as they lost by four wickets.
Cameron, James White and Lachie Packer picked up wickets, and there was an electric display of glove work behind the stumps by James Winn with four catches.
Under-13s rep cricket
Congratulations to the Muray Valley Cricket Association under-13s team - including Tocumwal representatives Ollie East, Archie Matters, Sam White and Joel Harrison - who won their game on Sunday against Wangaratta, in the Wangaratta Challenge.
MVCA were 7/167 off their 40 overs, and they had Wangaratta all out for 106 off 30.2 overs.
The club is so proud of the Tocumwal boys who all contributed and played well to come out on top.