Shelton proves a Scrooge with ball

LOCHIE Shelton kept a tight rein on Arnold batsmen when Wedderburn further cemented its lunge for an Upper Loddon flag.

Shelton may have only claimed one wicket but half his six overs were maidens and Arnold was limited to just four runs off his 36 deliveries.

Arnold openers Ryan Metelmann and Phil Scholes had the Redbacks off to a solid start, Metelmann in a paradoxical performance that saw him well beaten by one Adam Postle delivery before finding the boundary with the next.

Metelmann belted five boundaries against Wedderburn’s opening bowlers before taking aim at an Isaac Holt ball that was caught by Brad Holt near square leg.

Four runs later, the combination joined to dismiss Scholes in a carbon copy performance that saw Arnold 2-37.

Mike Dale and Jaspa Wendels gave some hope that Arnold would secure a final spot on its own merits but Will Holt and Shelton changed that and with Arnold 4-63, Wedderburn soon demolished the tail.

Dale had been lucky to surive a drop before Will Holt’s strong bowling proved too good.

Wendels had also shown some style with a big boundary before a backfoot shot went straight into the hands of Tom Kirk.

Kirk finished with four wickets, James Vander-Wetering took out Kale Hewett-Scull in his one over with the ball.

Wedderburn then set about chasing the 106-run target with Shelton and Brad Holt top scoring on 34 each - Shelton dismissed by the Dale boys and Mike Dale bowling Brad Holt.

The Band had easily passed the target when Louis Holt was dismissed and batted on to complete 25 overs before declaring with Will Holt and Steve Giorlando not out.

Cam Dale was the best of Arnold’s bowlers.