Beechworth on the cusp of finals

BEECHWORTH’S A grade will be playing off in the two-day finals for a second straight season despite a 51-run loss to Wangaratta Magpies. Defending 224, the Magpies were clinical in their approach with the ball at Baarmutha Park, taking care of the fearsome Wanderers’ top order and rolling Beechworth for 173 all out in the 69th over. Captain Brenton Surrey said while his team showed plenty of fight towards the end of the innings, the top five ultimately didn’t put enough runs on the board. “They bowled pretty well and we didn’t bat as well as we could’ve,” he said. “Our bottom five batted really well, we had them looking over their shoulder a little bit so I’m not too disappointed with how it all played out.” It took just three overs for the Magpies to find their first wicket, with Dean Simmons getting Jackson Cull out caught for just four runs. Clancy Ellett dug in with the dangerous Kayde Surrey before Fraser Ellis came into the attack and worked his magic. Ellis found the edge, with Surrey back in the pavilion for just seven off 22. Pitching the ball up, Ellis then trapped Ellett on the crease and in front of the stumps, dismissed LBW for 18 off 40 rocks. The Wanderers were reeling at 3/37, but Jack Ryan, Brenton Surrey, and Will Prebble would fight hard to keep the run chase on its feet. Surrey would toil hard for his 18 runs, facing off 72 deliveries before chipping a Rhys Grant delivery to a fielder, while Will Prebble would see out 83 balls before falling for 30. Some lower order runs by Cam Fendyk (30 0ff 46) and Henry Scalzo (20 off 46) gave the Wanderers a faint chance needing around 70 runs with three wickets in hand, but it was too little, too late. The 10th and final wicket would fall midway in the 69th over, with Fraser Ellis skittling Tristan Lenaz for 14 to complete his five-wicket haul. Ellis’ 5/13 from 14.3 overs was instrumental in getting the ‘Pies over the line, battling illness to perform for his team. Unless Ovens Valley United, sitting in fifth, pull off an extremely one-sided victory against the Magpies and the Wanderers collapse against last placed Benalla, Beechworth will finish in the top four. The door is still open for a home final with a strong win and a Magpies loss, however unlikely. Knowing the high likelihood of playing finals in two weeks’ time, Surrey said their match in Benalla would be a good chance to fine tune their game before the high stakes season begins. “We’ll be trying to bounce back this week and worry about ourselves more than Benalla go in and play some positive, quality cricket,” he said. In other grades, Beechworth’s B grade were outmatched by Yarrawonga Mulwala at Lonsdale Reserve despite a valiant effort with the bat. Lewis Richards brought up a half-century (51 off 102) and batted well with Rama Schultz (24 off 47) to finish with 3/127 after the first innings. The Lakers thought were able to chase the total within 23 overs, with opener Hudson Gillies (74* off 67) stealing the show. While in C grade, the Stanley Wanderers are just one game away from finishing the regular season unbeaten after an eight wicket win over Greta White. Wickets were shared all around as Greta were bowled out for 75, with Dean Chambeyron taking 3/8. Darby West (37 off 36) led the way with the bat to have the total chased down within just 14 overs. C grade will have the bye next week while B grade will host Benalla at Baarmutha Park in their last game of the season.

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