Bowlers bring end to a good start

ROUND eight of Upper Loddon junior cricket was completed on Saturday, with Arnold and Kingower scoring comfortable wins over their respective opponents, Bridgewater and Wedderburn.

Bridgewater started their chase of Arnold’s total of 183 promisingly, with openers Daisy Stringer and Blake Smyth adding 23 for the opening partnership.

Seth Hewitt finally broke this partnership and followed up with another couple of quick wickets to put Bridgewater on the back foot.

Nate Harrison continued on his good form from last week’s three wickets by defying the bowlers to remain undefeated and be Bridgewater’s top scorer, in their final total of nine for 75.

Hewitt took bowling honours for Arnold while Aaron Thomas took the last two wickets to fall.

Connor Alexander and Georgia Hancock both bowled economical spells whilst also picking up a wicket apiece

A consistent batting display saw the Kingower top order have a series of fruitful partnerships to finish the day with a total of 2-239.

Evan McCoy top scored retiring on 43 while Tyler Murphy, Jackson Luckman, Leah McCoy, Ryder Smith and Isaac JohnsonMcCloud all made significant contributions before retiring.

The Wedderburn bowlers toiled hard with Nash Turner making the early batsmen work hard for their runs. The bowlers stuck to their task and they were finally rewarded late in the day when Otti Clarke and Blaz Cramp both claimed wickets.

Wedderburn plays host to Arnold on Saturday at the Market Square Cricket Ground in their final game for the season.

DAISY’S TOP WEEK Bridgewater’s Daisy Stringer has co-captained the Bendigo girls’ team in under 17 country week cricket, finishing the series with four wickets, a catch and a 40 not out with the bat. Daisy took three wickets in the first match off three overs and conceding just three runs. Her summer weekends are full of cricket with Sundays spent playing in division one of the Bendigo women’s competition where she has taken five wickets in five matches this season. Daisy credits her success with the ball this season to the work of coaches at Bridgewater and Bendigo.