Over Saturday and Sunday, Rochester’s Windridge Oval played witness to a nail-biting McMahon Shield final, with Echuca ultimately taking the title for the third year in a row.
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The champions defeated Moama by 12 runs in a down-to-the-wire Goulburn Murray Cricket clash that swung in the favour of both sides throughout and continued to do so in the final few overs, with the complexion of the game seemingly changing every ball.
Windridge Oval was chosen by the GMC board as the venue for the final, which led to the venue being selected by Echuca, who had first choice of ground due to finishing on top of the table, for its semi-final last week against Echuca South.
“Obviously the league, the other captains and the umpires thought it was the best ground in the competition,” said Echuca captain Simon Maddox before his sides semi-final.
“So that’s part of our thinking if it’s been voted the best ground competition and that’s where the grand finals played well, we’ll play (our semi-final) there.”
On February 11, Windridge Oval also played host to the final of the Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League, further cementing the grounds credentials as a premier venue.
Day one of the final featured a resilient batting display from Echuca, who managed to bat out its 80 overs and post a respectable total, 198, when it looked like doing neither halfway through the day’s play.
The two-time champion made a bright start, with openers Ewan Davidson and Curtis Townrow scoring quickly in a 24-run opening stand.
However, both departed in the space of three balls and after team-leading run-scorer Kobyn James (3) and James Grixti (3) fell cheaply, Echuca was looking shaky at 4-44.
Matthew Hinks and Aidan Young steadied the ship, with both batsmen settling in for the long haul.
The pair’s 44-run stand spanned more than 22 overs before Moama’s strike bowler Michael Hill found his third wicket via the edge of Hinks, who departed for 29 from 102 balls.
Hill was involved again not long after, this time as a catcher, as Young (33) flashed at a ball outside off from the bowling of Billy Gallagher.
The loss of Brendan Moyle (4) left Echuca at 7-102, with just over half of the 80 overs expired, as captain Simon Maddox joined Charlie Hinks at the crease.
Moama, who would have been looking to close out the innings quickly, was instead frustrated by a disciplined partnership by the pair, who gradually ticked the scoreboard over as they batted together for 30 overs.
By the time Hinks (38) departed off the bowling of Jordan McGregor there were less than eight overs remaining in the day and the score had advanced to a much more respectable 8-167.
Over those final overs, Maddox (42) and Kale Edwards (13 not out) continued to add to the score before Maddox finally fell 116 balls into his innings.
It was a cautious start on day two for Moama as it set about hunting down the 199 required to secure the championship.
Openers Joel Murphy and Fraser Buchanan saw off 9.3 overs without greatly troubling the scorers before the loss of Murphy (4) saw Moama lose its first with the scoreboard showing just 12.
Michael Hill joined Buchanan and the pair added another 10 runs before Buchanan nicked one to first slip, with Young the bowler once again.
It seemed impossible to keep the all-rounder out of the game when, in the 15th over, he executed a brilliant run-out of Archie Teasdale, sprinting to his right from mid-on and throwing down the stumps as the left-hander attempted a quick single.
Captain Simon Maddox then struck for Echuca in three consecutive overs, first removing team leading run-scorer Anthony McMahon caught and bowled, followed by Michael Hill (20) in the same fashion, and finally returning Jack Russell to the sheds via a nick behind.
Moama headed into the sheds for tea at a dismal 6-65, with Echuca looking to seal things after the break.
Saunders and McGregor attempted to salvage the innings and Saunders looked in good touch, getting bat on ball with regularity.
McGregor went with him and the pair brought up the hundred for Moama in the 58th over as they tried to up the run rate and push towards the target in the final 22 overs.
Saunders (54) brought up his half-century in the 67th over but it wasn’t to be, as he found himself trapped in front by Matthew Hinks just four balls after posting his 50, ending his partnership with McGregor for the seventh wicket at 87-runs.
With 30 required off the final five overs, Moama looked to be in trouble when over 76 started with the dismissal of Kirk Teasdale (17), but momentum swung again as new batsman Billy Gallagher smashed 11 runs, including a six, from the remaining five balls.
Echuca gained control again to start over 77 with Gallagher trapped in front to Rylea Jones, leaving Moama on the brink at nine down.
McGregor brought up his 50 in over 78 and would have been hopeful of guiding his side home however, the game turned for a final time when on the second ball of over 79, number 11 Rhys Drennan holed out, ending Moama’s innings at 186, 12 runs short of Echuca’s 198.
Echuca skipper Simon Maddox, who was named man-of-the-match for his efforts, claimed the win was the best of any he had been involved in at the club.
“It’s unbelievable, mate. After Christmas we lost three in a row, we hit a form slump, and sides probably thought ‘Echuca’s not the side they were’,” he said.
“We had a pretty deep, honest chat and just got back to working hard.
“You probably heard us throw the word ‘grind’ out there, and we’ve been grinding for six or eight weeks, extra training, blokes doing training and throwing balls to each other, so credit to the boys.
“They’ve been amazing, they’re an amazing group of fellas, so right now I’m over the moon. It’s honestly probably the sweetest one I’ve won at Echuca Cricket Club.”
The Game
Echuca 9-198 (Simon Maddox 42, Charlie Hinks 38, Michael Hill 4-60) d Moama 186 (Matt Saunders 54, Jordan McGregor 53 not out, Simon Maddox 3-22, Aidan Young 3-55)
Cadet sports journalist