Stanhope secures shield

By Matthew Kappos

Mar 19, 2024

Winners are grinners: Stanhope Cricket Club has claimed victory in the B-grade grand final. Photo by Contributed

Stanhope was crowned Bill Williams Goulburn B-grade shield champion, defeating Echuca by 48 runs in a Goulburn Murray Cricket grand final.

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Luke Twynstra played a starring role on Saturday, March 9, as Stanhope batted first, posting the only half-century of the match with 61 runs from 75 deliveries.

Twynstra stabilised the Stanhope innings in a 55-run sixth-wicket partnership with Lachlan West (27) after his side was reduced to 5-71.

At the top of the order, captain Bradd Stewart had provided a platform for his side to push on, scoring a quickfire 23 from 22 balls.

By the completion of its 40 overs, Stanhope had posted a formidable 162 for Echuca to chase.

The Echuca bowling attack was led by Nick Dolan, whose three wickets for 41, including the crucial scalp of Twynstra, kept his side in the contest.

All six bowlers used took at least one wicket, with Jack Evans (2-28) and Dolan the only two to take multiple wickets.

Echuca’s reply started promisingly with Connor Shannon (32) anchoring the top of the order as part of a 38-run opening stand with Rhys Varcoe.

Not long after that partnership ended, Echuca endured a horror spell, losing four wickets for just one run as it fell to 5-47, with player of the match Jayke Fisher doing most of the damage.

Family day: Stanhope cricketers and family members after winning the B-grade trophy. Photo by Contributed

There were minor contributions down the rest of the order, but in the end, a long-range stumping from Stanhope keeper Jonathon Pearson ended Echuca’s innings at 114.

Fisher tore through the Echuca batting line-up with an impressive 5-7, while Aden Cheong (1-13), Lachlan West (1-19) and Jacob Gillie (1-26) also took wickets for the champions.

Stanhope had been the most dominant side in the Goulburn B-grade competition throughout the year, possessing the league’s best home-and-away record of 15-2 and also defeating Echuca in their three regular-season meetings.