Barooga's Zach Dunn swings for the boundary.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
If one thing was never in doubt on Saturday, January 11, it was that competition between Barooga and Tocumwal in the first day of two-day cricket was to be fierce.
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As it turned out, there were highs and lows for the home side and visitors alike.
The Bloods won the toss and elected to bowl in round 11 of the MVCA, with debutant Abeer Chowdury appearing at the top of the order to claim three runs from 18 balls for Barooga.
Murphy Stephens, who claimed 100 from 138 balls faced, alongside 13 fours, proved a major headache for the visitors.
Barooga vice-captain Brendan Lewis praised Stephens for his effort.
“It’s pretty awesome to see a 16-year-old kid in Murphy Stephens making his first A-grade ton,” Lewis said.
“To be honest, it was pretty well faultless, too.”
“He’d already had a big week at Junior Country Week and got a fifty from that, so it was really good to see him continue his form.”
A relieved Andrew Lean (Tocumwal) takes a deep breath after a shaky catch by teammate Riley Rennick.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Jonathon Oliver later made a respectable 35 from 37 to leave the home side well positioned before being sent for the shed by Tocumwal’s Andrew Lean from the hands of Liam Sutton.
In their turn, Tocumwal’s bowlers proved their mettle, with Cooper Harris claiming four wickets for 48 and Andrew Lean snaring three for 64.
The end of Barooga’s first innings saw the home side declare on 9-207 from 60 overs.
With a steep mountain to chase, Tocumwal took to the batting. Cody Deegan’s efforts of five runs from eight balls were quickly doused by Brendan Lewis, who then made room for returned import Riyaad Henry.
Indeed, the roses were blooming for Henry, who went on to sever the hopes of successive Bloods batters with four wickets for 22 from eight overs.
Tocumwal ended the day on 6-67 from 20 overs, finding itself still 140 runs shy of Barooga’s sizeable 207.
Going into next Saturday’s second-day clash with the Bloods, the message for Barooga was simple. Currently, Lewis said, his side is not concerned with the outright as much as claiming crucial wickets.
“The target ahead is four wickets,” he said.
“We’ll be aiming to do the damage with the ball.
“I rate Cooper (Harris, who is set to bat for Tocumwal on Saturday). He can bat, that’s for sure.
“We’ve got to get him, and we’ve got to get the other boys.
“We’ll worry about what we choose to do from there once we get them out.
“We’ll reassess after the end of the first innings.”
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