Sport
12 March, 2024
Donald Jeffcott doubles up
Donald Jeffcott is the 2023/2024 Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association premiers following a 41-run victory over BrimKSH at Birchip Recreation Reserve on Saturday. Their B Grade also had a six wicket win over Charlton.
Heading into the finals undefeated, Donald Jeffcott was the undisputed favourites. After losing the toss and being sent into bowl, BrimKSH struck early through Kobe Macgregor catching Trent Grant off the bowling of Lachlan McGinniss to have Donald Jeffcott 1/28.
With Noah Berry coming to the crease, the BrimKSH bowlers bowled tight, but Berry got through the early stages and put on a solid 96-run partnership with Cooper Anderson before Anderson fell for 55, caught by Sandon Schultz off Charlie Dean's bowling.
A couple of overs later, Isaac McPherson came on and Matthew Crisp stumped him for 52 to have Donald Jeffcott 3/132.
With BrimKSH back in the game, they took five more wickets to restrict them to 8/179 off their 40 overs. Charlie Dean led the way with 4/26.
Daniel Atkins and Eddie Landwehr opened the bowling for Donald Jeffcott and made things tough for the BrimKSH middle order. Atkins got the first breakthrough with Leigh Dovaston falling for seven.
Cooper Anderson and Nicholas Atkins came on and kept up the bowling pressure with Anderson taking two wickets in quick succession, Tim Bell for 12 and Mark McPherson for 19 to have BrimKSH in trouble at 3/42.
Isaac McPherson and Chris McPherson waited for the right balls, but the bowling was too tight. Atkins got the breakthrough of Isaac McPherson for seven and when Chris McPherson fell to Noah Berry's second catch of the day, and Anderson's third wicket, BrimKSH were in trouble at 5/64.
Jeremy Preston and Matthew Crisp batted patiently and tried to put up resistance. When Anderson got his fourth wicket of the day, trapping Preston for leg before for 13, BrimKSH were 6/73 and Donald Jeffcott could sniff victory.
Matthew Crisp and Sandon Schultz put on a partnership of 30 before Crisp fell for 20. Schultz then worked well with Lachlan McGinniss to keep the innings going. McGinniss scored a quick 13, but that's where the resistance ended. When Schultz was run out for 29, so was the BrimKSH innings, with Donald Jeffcott securing victory in the 39th over.
Cooper Anderson was named man of the match with 4/26 off eight overs to go with his 55.
In the B Grade at King Georges Park, Donald Jeffcott faced Charlton.
Donald Jeffcott won the toss and sent Charlton into bat and it was a wise decision as they bowled them out for 58 in the 22nd over. Hugh Sait top scored with 18 for Charlton whilst Jake Needs, 4/18, Jacob Donnellon, 3/4 and Colby Anderson, 2/16 the destroyers with the ball.
Donald Jeffcott didn't have it all their way in reply. Elliott Fitzpatrick, 2/15 and Patrick Soulsby, 2/17 tried to make a game of it, but the total was too low to defend and Donald Jeffcott chased it down in the 19th over, finishing 4/59.
Sam Postlethwaite and Jack Tellefson remained unbeaten on 22 and 20 respectively.