We are more than halfway through Goulburn Murray Cricket’s A-grade McMahon Shield and with two rounds left before the holiday break, The Riv has compiled a list of the five best performers in the competition so far.

A quick note, these rankings have not been sorted into batting, bowling and fielding specifically, so all-round performances fared better and T20 or representative performances were not included.

1. Asantha Singappuli (Echuca South)

Runs: 419 Average: 46.56 100s: 1 50s: 3 High score: 113 Wickets: 21 Best: 5-15

The current batting and McMahon Shield champion player leader has had a season to remember so far.

After a quieter campaign than his standard last season, Asantha Singappuli is back with a vengeance and is leading the way for the Swans, who currently sit third on the ladder and look to be a true shield contender.

Not only has Singappuli been explosive with the bat, smashing 419 runs with no other batter in the competition tallying more runs.

His best innings was a magnificant century against Moama, pushing the ladder leaders to the brink while also providing value with the ball, currently sitting fourth on the bowling leaderboard with 21 scalps to his name at an average of 12.9.

The Swans are desperate to advance to the big dance this season and with Singappuli in champion player form, they may just get there.

2. Russell Stockdale (Moama)

Runs: 403 Average: 44.78 100s: 2 50s: 1 High score: 111 Wickets: 19 Best: 5-12.

It was pretty difficult to separate numbers one and two on our list, as the top two ranked players in the champion player race have almost identical figures across batting and bowling.

Yet, Moama’s breakout performer for the 2025-26 campaign finds himself in second, barely.

The ‘Little Master’ has been outstanding through the first half of the season, dominating at the top of the order and proving remarkably effective with his leg spin.

Stockdale is second in the batting rankings by 16 runs, having played one less innings than Singappuli and is seventh on the bowling rankings.

Hitting 403 runs at an average of nearly 45 while also being the third leading wicket taker in his side with 19 scalps to his name.

Stockdale’s all-round effectiveness has been key for Moama in the first half of the season, shining brightest in an otherwise stacked team.

3. Sean Williams (Rochester)

Runs: 324 Average: 32.4 50s: 2 100s: 1 High score: 102 Wickets: 20 Best: 3-29

While Rochester hasn’t had the same blistering success to start that it had last campaign, its talisman is still firing on all cylinders early in the McMahon Shield.

Sean Williams is a class all-rounder year-in-year-out in the competition and currently rounds out the top three in the champion player standings.

He sits at number four in the batting rankings with 324 runs at an average of 32.4, notching triple figures in the third game of the season and regularly averaging a strike rate of 100.

Williams is ranked at sixth in the wickets leader board, snaring 20 scalps this season, with his best figures 3-29 coming against Nondies-Cohuna.

Rochester is on the outside looking in on the competition ladder in fifth with 11 rounds played and if a few more players can go along with Williams, the side will find itself back at the pointy end of the competition.

4. Kobyn James (Moama)

Runs: 323 Average: 80.75 50s: 2 100s: 1 High Score: 112* Catches: 18 Stumpings: 3

Moama’s big swing in the off-season, stealing away the leading run-scorer of the competition in 2024-25 from cross border rival Echuca has paid off in spades.

Not only has James once again excelled with the bat, smashing 323 runs at an eye-watering average of 80.75 from seven innings, but he also leads the way with catches in the competition, including outfielders and keepers.

His tidy glove work has been a large reason as to Moama’s success with the ball as a good portion of the side’s dismissals have been caught behind.

Not only is James up there with Regis Chakabva as the best wicketkeepers in the competition, but also one of the most dangerous match-winners going around.

While James hasn’t had the consistency of Stockdale, he seems to have found a rich vein of form, that if it carries over, could mean the Mowers go undefeated all season.

5. Prateer Mehta (Bamawm-Lockington United)

Runs: 179 Average: 35.8 50s: 1 High score: 84 Wickets: 24 Best: 5-52

An American import who last played in England, Prateer Mehta has been the missing piece for the Lions.

Marketed as a batting all-rounder, Mehta has had the opposite effect, with his tricky leg spinners making him the leading wicket taker in the competition.

The one thing BLU needed desperately was wicket takers, finding the pick of the competition in Mehta, who has taken 24 at an average of 9.63, extremely economical for a leggie.

Not to be outshone, his batting has also been strong, ranking 22nd in the batting standings, tallying 179 runs at an average of 35.8 in five innings.

Mehta’s presence bolstering an already solid squad has meant BLU is currently 7-2 trailing only Moama on the ladder heading into the new year.

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Friday, 15th May 2026

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