Sport

Gallery | Under-14 finals series locked in as Tigers miss out

By Daniel Webb

Feb 22, 2022

Keeping: Old Students’ Thomas Crowhurst gets a run-out. Photo by Aydin Payne

The Cricket Shepparton under-14 A-grade finals are locked in after a dramatic final weekend of action.

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Northerners remain undefeated on top of the ladder and are set to host fourth-placed Tatura in the first semi-final, while Mooroopna welcomes Old Students.

Fielding: Ben O’Brien of Old Students in the field. Photo by Aydin Payne

Going into the last round, it was all to play for and the battle for second place between Old Students and Tatura did not disappoint.

Old Students went in to bat first and posted a healthy total of 3-120, with Rhys Osborne putting on a classy 29.

Things got interesting when Tatura hit the crease and some solid batting from openers Ben O’Connell (11) and Balraj Singh (18) got the visitors off to a good start.

Good innings: Tatura’s Balraj Singh put on a solid 18 runs. Photo by Aydin Payne

Some excellent bowling from the Students, including a Lewis Boswell 2-7, reeled Tatura back in, however, it came down to the wire.

Some desperate efforts in the field from Students’ keeper Thomas Crowhurst resulted in run-outs which stemmed Tatura’s attack.

Blocked: Tatura’s Darcy Brewer stop the ball in its tracks. Photo by Aydin Payne

A big last over with the ball from Ben O’Brien, including two dot balls and a wicket, had Old Students move into third, running out five-run victors.

At Central Park, Notre Dame-St Brendan’s has had its finals hopes dashed, falling to Mooroopna by 21 runs.

Pace: Old Students’ Matthew Morcom picked up a wicket at the weekend. Photo by Aydin Payne

The Tigers are equal on points with fourth-placed Tatura, but with a worse nett run-rate are below it.

Notre Dame-St Brendan’s bowlers did their best to win the contest, with Thomas Hudson (2-4) and Jack Hudson (2-6) putting up remarkable figures.

However, it was not enough, with Mooroopna’s Noah Williams (3-4) helping his side to victory.

In the final game of the round Northerns beat Numurkah by two wickets.

Big arm: Old Students’ Ayden McCrae lines up a strong throw. Photo by Aydin Payne

In under-14 B-grade competition the finals places were already set, but that did not stop some entertaining cricket being played.

Howzat? Old Students celebrate a run-out. Photo by Aydin Payne

In the match of the round, Euroa beat Nagambie by four runs, with a magnificent Ethan Saxon 2-2 helping Nagambie to the win.

Eyes on the ball: Old Students’ Joban Sandhu watches on after bowling the ball. Photo by Aydin Payne

At Princess Park, Mooroopna put on a clinic against Shepparton United, running out a 43-run victor, while Karramomus beat Notre Dame-St Brendan’s by 42 runs.