The Central Highlands Under 18 boys cricket team claimed a victory in Kerang on Sunday, where they took on the Mallee Murray Suns in the second round of the Victorian Country Dukes Shield for season 2024 2025.
Winning the toss, the Suns chose to bat in blustery conditions. The Highlands’ opening pace bowlers of Connor Maggi, Oliver McCormack, Lachlan Sheahan and Joseph Lovel bowled tightly to restrict the top order to under four runs an over for the first 25 overs.
The Suns’ middle order of Hill, Driscoll and Penny fought back to take their team to 6 for 160, until three wickets for three runs put them in a perilous position at 9 for 163.
Driscoll and number 11 McGregor fought hard and took advantage of some wayward late inning bowling to add 80 for the last wicket to post a competitive score of 243 all out in the 48th over.
Best for the Highlanders with the ball were Lovell 3 for 54, Maggi 2 for 28 and Sheahan 2 for 59.
The theme for the Highlanders batsman was building partnerships and after a first over wicket they build consecutive partnerships of 86, 46, 56, 42 and 18 unbroken.
The visitors cased down the tally in less then 36 overs with 14 overs spare. Joshua Nolan 57 off 34, Darcy Aitken 53 off 47, Kylan Jans 34 off 55 and Murphy Skinner 27 off 42 saw the inning skip along at 7 runs per over with Jack Mifsud and Jake Howell getting their team to the line with 18 off 12 balls to record an excellent victory.
Highlands coach Ron Jennings was highly impressed with the team’s performance with five of the players still available for the team next year.
