BARHAM-Koondrook have secured their first win since joining the Swan Hill & District Cricket Association, defeating former foe Wandella by 52-runs on Saturday.
After being sent in to bat, Barham-Koondrook amassed 9-156 from their 40 overs before a devastating opening spell from young speedster Mason Laursen helped bowl last year’s grand finalists out for 104.
Laursen finished the match with figures of 3-13 from just four overs and picked up the prized wickets of Daniel Higgs, Bohden McKnight and Patrick Oliver in a 10-ball stretch that changed the course of the match.
It was a performance that was heaped with praise from his captain Jayden Hall post-match as he gave full credit to the young opener for helping to set up the victory.
“His (Laursen) three wickets in his first couple of overs gave us great belief and proved decisive in the end,” Hall said.
“They (Wandella) were in a bit of hole from then on and we just continued to bowl a tight line and length for the rest of the innings.
“I’ve been really happy with the way we’ve bowled and fielded over the last two weeks.
“To restrict two good sides (Wandella and Nyah District) to under 110 over the first two weeks has been really pleasing.
“Obviously Mason started us off, but I think everyone that touched the ball bowled really well.”
Barham-Koondrook got away to a steady start with the bat before falling into a hole mid innings, with Bohden McKnight (4-29 off seven overs) and Ryan Barnes (2-13 off eight) helping to reduce the visitors to 5-65 in the 24th over.
From that point on it was one-way traffic, with Chameera Akurugoda (46), Jade Stewart (23 not out), Corey Barrington (16 off 13 balls) and Dean McGowan (15) combining to push Barham-Koondrook to a defendable score.
“His (Akurugoda) performance really anchored our innings after we lost a couple of wickets early,” Hall said.
“He batted really smart and just picked the right time to go hard and our lower order finished it off.
“It’s good to have that depth all the way down the order making runs.
“‘Stewy’ (Stewart) was unbelievable again.
“He just turns the strike over really well and helps his batting partners navigate the innings.”
In reply, the Bombers never really got going, with last year’s grand finalists losing their first seven wickets for just 47 runs.
Ethan McKnight (21) and captain Ryan Barnes (23) produced a handy 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket until McKnight’s dismissal with a caught-and-bowled to Akurugoda (2-22 off eight overs) ended Wandella’s resistance.
It was a win that will fill Barham-Koondrook with confidence and a result that came on the back of an encouraging performance against Nyah District seven days earlier.
While Hall was happy to strike first in his club’s renewed rivalry against their former NDCA rival, he and his teammates are also looking forward to the challenges ahead, with no bigger test than this Saturday’s encounter with reigning premier St Mary’s-Tyntynder.
“It was good to get our first win in general but it was even better to get a win over Wandella,” Hall said.
“Even though the game was played in great spirit, it was still good to get a win over them, for sure.
“They (St Mary’s-Tyntynder) obviously have a couple of good bats at the top of their order and Holmes-Brown with the ball, but we’re really keen to play those guys for the first time.
“From all reports they are the best side in the competition so it will be good for us to see exactly where we stand against the best and the level we need to reach to compete with them.”
Wandella will be looking to bounce back in a rematch of last year’s semi-final with Nyah District when the two teams meet at Nyah this weekend.
