Kade Pearse and Regis Chakabva's significant opening stand has put BLU in the driver's seat.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
A batting masterclass from Kade Pearse and Regis Chakabva on day one of Bamawm-Lockington United’s clash with Rochester has left the latter with a large chase to secure victory in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s McMahon Shield.
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Before the start of play, both sides observed a minute’s silence to honour Luke and Benny Smith, the two boys from Tongala who lost their lives in a plane crash.
BLU won the toss and elected to bat first at home on a pitch favouring runs.
Knowing they had time at the crease, veterans Pearse and Chakabva got off to a slow start, scoring only 12 runs in the first 10 overs.
The pair looked to build a strong opening partnership and was willing to weather Rochester’s bowling barrage early before cashing in as the innings went on.
Angus Martin was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-37.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
In the next 10 overs, Chakabva began to show his explosive batting prowess, tallying 29 runs at the drinks break, with Pearse holding down the other end.
While dot balls came plentifully for Rochester, neither opener seemed fazed, putting away the bad balls and continuing to rotate the strike.
After passing 50, Chakabva started to free his hands with the run rate increasing.
However, before the Zimbabwean native could storm to a momentous century, Chakabva was caught by Brad Major while trying to take on Rochester captain Angus Martin, his innings coming to an end on 77 in the 35th over.
While Chakabva’s knock set up his side, the job was only half finished, and now it was on the rest of BLU to get it to a competitive total.
First drop Liam Hamilton hung around with Pearse for 12 overs and managed to score 10 before heading back to the sheds after a superb caught-and-bowled effort by Jesse Cuttriss.
Kade Pearse was the perfect partner for Chakabva, notching 73.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
BLU’s greatest strength in the beginning of its innings was its ability to develop partnerships that spanned a decent amount of time, with Pearse’s new partner Noah Turner sticking with the opener until the 65th over, nearly 20 after Hamilton was dismissed.
Turner’s hard-fought 27 was all the number four could muster before he was caught by Matthew Harrington off Cuttriss’ bowling, the finger spinner collecting his second.
That began a collapse of sorts for the Lions, with wickets falling at a quicker pace as the 80th over loomed.
Luke Thompson was next to go four overs after Turner, finding the safe hands of Martin for 15.
Thomas Dicker toiled for his seven runs before succumbing to a beautiful ball by Martin, who collected his second.
Martin couldn’t stay out of the action as his crafty work in the field caused confusion between Jake Toll and Pearse, with the latter being run out on 73 on the cusp of carrying his bat through the innings.
Jesse Cuttriss grabbed figures of 3-77 from his bowling.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
In his 16th over, Martin struck twice at the back end of the innings, tallying the scalps of Jeremy Felmingham and Simon Van Duinen for one and a duck, respectively.
On the final ball of the innings, Toll was run out trying to come back for a second run by Jake Wright, with the home side finishing the day at 9-254.
Martin led from the front all day, with figures of 4-37 and a run-out. His knack for slaying giants meant his side has a chance in the second innings.
At Echuca South, Kyabram Fire Brigade will have to conjure some wizardry with the ball to take down the hosting Swans.
The Flames batted first and made a below-par score of 169 all out as Brett Andison (85 runs) proved to be Kyabram’s lone soldier on the post.
Fire Brigade bit back with the ball to have Echuca South at 4-62 at stumps, but with 108 runs required with six wickets in the shed, it’ll take a top display with the Kookaburra to stop the Swans short.
In the round’s other game, Leitchville-Gunbower is tasked with 264 runs for the win after Moama put on a hefty display with bat in hand, commandeered by Anthony McMahon and Matt Saunders who chalked up 59 runs apiece.
