Rochester joins Kyabram Fire Brigade as the only unbeaten teams in the John McMahon Shield heading into round three of the 2024-25 season. Is it a sneaky team to beat for the rest of the way?

While Rochy’s win over Echuca South wasn’t emphatic, its bowling attack was still classy enough to defend a small total against a notoriously competent batting side.

The Swans won the toss and elected to bowl on an uneven Echuca South deck that was tipped to smooth out as the game wore on.

Rochy was in trouble early when opener Joel Brunce was trapped in front for four by Jayden Rosin.

First drop Matthew Harrington only added four runs of his own before he danced down the wicket and was stumped by Echuca South’s wicket keeper Grady Smith off Asantha Singappauli’s bowling.

Four appeared to be the number as Adam Ward departed for that amount after spooning a catch to Jayden Rosin in Singappuli’s next, the spinner collecting two in quick succession.

Despite scoring only two runs, Oliver Williams survived for 46 balls, while Sean Williams added vital runs before being bowled by paceman A.K. Gunathilaka.

Rochester’s talisman Sean Williams was next to go, edging off to wicket keeper Smith for a hard-fought 39 off Ben Eade’s bowling.

James Hipwell lived out every batsman’s worst nightmare when he was caught by Singappuli for a golden duck, and Eade was now on a hat trick.

Jesse Cuttriss was able to survive the hat-trick ball but survived exactly three balls before being caught by Thomas Morphett off Rathika Rajakumara for a single run.

It was déjà vu for Rochy as Cale James was given out lbw on his first delivery to walk off for a golden duck, this time it was Rajakumara who was on a hat-trick.

Now with just one wicket remaining, William Hipwell and Myles Wade hung on for as long as they could, surviving until the 35th over and adding just two runs each before Hipwell was dismissed, ending Rochy’s innings at 119.

With little to bowl to, Rochy had to strike quickly, and it did just that courtesy of Myles Wade, who claimed the scalp of captain Jayden Rosin for 14 thanks to an Adam Ward catch.

Vice-captain Singappuli only made five runs before hitting a shot straight into the hands of Angus Martin off Adam Ward’s bowling.

Wade struck again in the following over, this time claiming Clayton Watson for two courtesy of Ward’s catching, the Swans now sitting perilously at 3-25.

Echuca South was unable to build much momentum as it kept getting dismissed before getting a start. Ward claimed his second of the innings, this time it was Rajakumara who edged to keeper Oliver Williams for two.

Wade was having a day and claimed the wickets of Joel Stephens and Tristan Watson in the span of three overs for a duck and nine, respectively.

Grady Smith added five off 17 balls before he was also caught behind by Williams, this time off Angus Martin’s bowling.

Echuca South was 7-45 and not even half-way to Rochy’s reasonably small total of 119 after just 20 overs.

Thomas Morphett hung around for a while, surviving 18 deliveries for his three runs before succumbing to a lovely delivery by Cale James that went right through to the stumps.

Ben Eade and A.K. Gunathilaka went after Rochester’s bowling attack, and it looked, for a brief shinning moment, that they could pull off the victory before the latter was caught by Sean Williams for 12.

Surprisingly, it was number-nine Eade who put up the best fight against Rochy’s relentless attack, cruising to an unbeaten 14 by innings’ end. Echuca Swans was all out for 97.

Echuca South Recreation Reserve continues to be a bowler-friendly wicket, evidenced by Rochester and the Swans’ low totals.

Rochester is now two from two, but only one side will remain unbeaten to start the season as they face fellow table toppers Kyabram Fire Brigade at home in round three.

Meanwhile, Echuca South will have a good chance to bounce back when it plays L-G in Gunbower next week.

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Monday, 23rd October 2023

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