Rochy on top of Swans after dominant batting display

By Oliver Shedden

Dec 8, 2024

Dylan Cuttriss and Oliver Williams put on a 115-run partnership to power Rochester to a mammoth total against Echuca South. Photo: Bruce Povey.

Rochester flexed all of its batting might against Echuca South on the first day of round eight as the home side set an almighty chase for the Swans.

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Echuca South won the toss and elected to bat in an attempt to roll the home side and put it under siege early.

Unfortunately for the Swans, they were the only team under pressure in the match.

Openers Brandon Byrne and Jake Wright got off to a solid start against the Swans’ bowling attack.

But in just the fifth over, Wright fell victim to AK Gunathilaka’s bowling, spooning one to Joel Stephens for 11.

This early breakthrough brought Oliver Williams to the crease, with the young number three tasked with steadying the ship.

Williams combined well with Byrne and weathered an early storm to continue Rochy’s positive start.

The pair got through the first 20 overs, but Byrne nicked off Ben Walker’s bowling and was caught behind by Grady Smith for 26.

With new batsman Dylan Cuttriss and Williams now at the crease, the tide turned in Rochester’s favour.

After toiling for a while, both batsmen were able to open up once they got their eyes in and took to the bowlers.

The duo ripped the game away from the Swans, who at one point had the home side at 2-63, but as the overs ticked on, so did the scoreboard.

Williams eventually raised the bat for a hard-earned half-century, but not long after was caught off Ben Williams bowling his stabilising knock, ending on 55.

Now 60 overs into the day, Rochester looked to accelerate in the back 20 with an established batter still at the crease.

However, the 65th over bowled by Asantha Singappuli brought the Swans back into the game.

His first ball trapped the seemingly unstoppable Cuttriss lbw and brought an end to his counter-punching innings of 85, then his third ball found Cale James’ edge, putting it in the hands of Grady Smith for a duck.

Just two overs later, Kuldeep Lal was heading back to the sheds as well after being bowled by Tristan Watson for 19.

This brought captain Angus Martin to the crease to join Adam Ward for the remaining 13 overs.

Ward only hung around for a few more overs but managed to do some damage in that time, notching a quick 27 off 23 before he was caught by Tristan Watson.

With the foot on the accelerator, it was hit out or get out mode for Rochy. Jesse Cuttriss was next to depart in the 76th over for 15 after a tidy caught and bowled effort by Ben Eade.

Myles Wade contributed just a single off three balls before he was caught behind by Smith, with Martin following suit the following over, ending the innings and his solid 29-run supporting role.

Rochester was all out just one over shy of 80 overs and posted a strong 281-run total for Echuca South to chase on day two.

The Swans will have their work cut out for them if they are going to win the game which, if lost, could prove costly as Moama, Leitchville-Gunbower and Bamawm-Lockington United are all poised to leapfrog them out of finals contention.