By DYLAN POOL

ON a typically hot day of cricket at Yarrawonga last Saturday, Beechworth were sent in to bat on the beautifully manicured Stan Hargreaves Oval.

Unfortunately, disaster struck early with Clancy Ellett dismissed early for a duck with the score at 1/1.

Cam Fendyk was promoted up the order and found himself continuously playing and missing at balls, before he missed the wrong one and was bowled for 4.

This brought a familiar sight with Brenton Surrey again joining brother Kayde at the crease.

They didn't add much to the score with Kayde being caught hitting one off the toe and removed for 12.

Dylan Pool joined the skipper in the middle and himself was found playing and missing, but eventually found the bat and added a few runs, with he and Surrey adding 15 for the 4th wicket before Pool was found short at the bowler's end for 3.

This brought Austen Fendyk to the crease and together with Brenton they were ticking over the scoreboard seeing the Wanderers to the drinks break with no further fall of wicket.

Unfortunately, after the drinks break Brenton thought he would try a big bash–style ramp shot over the keeper only to end up popping it straight up to slip for a well–made 23.

Shon Francis joined Austen in the middle and found the middle of the bat a few times, but the pair only added another seven runs before Shon was caught for one with the score at 6/62.

Rory Ellett in his first game for the season joined Fendyk and together they were slowly building the total up towards the three figure mark.

Fendyk especially played well closing in on the half century mark, until he tried to punish one to the boundary off middle stump for a game high 38.

In the search for last over runs Willem Love and Rory Ellett had a mid wicket mix up and Willem was sent back on his way.

Richy Worcester strode out for the last three balls and him and Rory added a run a ball to see the side bat out the overs for the first time this season, finishing on 8/95.

The total would require tight bowling and fielding, something the team has prided itself on so far this season.

At the resumption of play things could have got off to a great start, but unfortunately Beechworrth grassed two opportunities in the first couple of overs that could have seen the side drop their heads.

But it wasn't long after that the Wanderers snapped up two quick wickets to have the home side now at 2/16 thanks to an LBW from Kayde Surrey and Shon Francis claiming Yarrawonga opener Matt Casey bowled.

With the score at 2/23 a diving catch at mid on from Dylan Pool that no one believed he would catch had the side up and about again.

There was a steady flow of wickets from then on as even with only 10 fielders due to a work Christmas party that one of the boys left for, we were seemingly in a great position to cause a massive upset, with the Lakers struggling at 7/65.

Unfortunately with a few streaky shots the 8th wicket put on another 17 runs before Cam Fendyk claimed a wicket thanks to a catch from Clancy Ellett at mid wicket.

However, with one player short in the field the home side found some gaps and passed the total with a boundary.

Soon after thanks to two catches from Shon Francis, both off Dean Fitzpatrick's bowling, the home side was bowled out for 103, scraping home for victory by 8 runs.

With two games left before the Christmas break, the Wanderers are set to travel to Mansfield to take on Delatite before hosting Ovens Valley at home.