UNDER 14 MIXED JUNIORS
Mil Lel’s under 14 side had the perfect unbeaten season to take out the premiership, despite the grand final against second placed Millicent being washed out on the weekend.
Although it was a disappointing way to finish the year, it in no way takes away from an excellent season from Mil Lel.
Every member of the team played representative cricket in some form this season, highlighting just how strong the overall side is.
With Harrison Hicks and Ryan Lucas among the leading run scorers in the competition and Rhys Grigg and Ryan Lock at the top of the wickets table, it led to some dominant performances during the season.
When you add to that a country cup level wicket keeper in Kade Mulraney and two more South East representatives in Georgia Barrett and Georgia Little, it was a well-rounded team.
Adding to the bowling strength was the fact that every player in the team was in the top 20 league wicket takers with Tayte Virtanen, Lachy Cameron, Oliver McCracken, Troy Horbury and Tyler Fiegert all taking wickets regularly.
UNDER 17 O’Donoghue Shield Millicent v South Grand Final
With very hot conditions facing both sides, a crucial toss was won by Millicent which elected to bat first.
South soon struck with Sam Domaschenz striking the first blow in the second over, catching Cambell Hateley for two off his own bowling in the second over of the day.
This brought captain Kallan Bevan to the crease to join Ashton Lindner who set to steady the innings before Jagger Geary sent Lindner on his way for a well fought five.
Sam Hunt was next in and played alongside Bevan who scored easily at a run a ball before a great catch by Milich, again off the bowling of Domaschenz, ended his innings.
Zac Zema and Sam Hunt looked to get the innings going with Millicent in a bit of trouble at 3/49.
They batted steadily to get to 65 before Milich enticed Zema down the pitch and had him stumped for seven.
Hunt was playing a lone hand facing lots of balls with partner Brayden Rowe as they looked to bat a bit of time before Jed Sims removed Hunt for a well compiled 21.
This brought Jett Werchon to the crease who was undone by a good catch by Sims leaving Rowe and Charlie Bevan to really knuckle down to see out the overs.
The boys batted patiently with Rowe scoring the bulk of the runs in the partnership to try and garner the Millicent side a total to defend.
Both Rowe and Bevan retired after a fantastic partnership which saved the Millicent innings.
Unfortunately Deane and Howell went cheaply leaving Teej Lawlor and Charlie Bevan returning to the crease.
Bevan was out quickly but Rowe was not to be denied, striking the ball beautifully to all parts of the ground to end a great knock of 41 not out.
Lawlor hung tough to be three not out, giving the Millicent side 130 to defend against South the next afternoon.
Sims and Domaschenz were South’s best bowlers with two wickets each.
South’s fielding was excellent, with Sims snaring two catches and a stumping.
In the second day’s play and chasing 130 with the temperature once again in the high 30s, South Gambier made a slow and steady start to its innings before losing Noah Maxwell to a great slips catch by Lawlor to have South at 1/10 off 10 overs.
Jed Sims joined James Miller at the crease and the boys put on a solid partnership before Miller clipped a ball off his legs from Lawlor to land in the safe hands of Jackson Deane.
This brought captain Elwood Geary in to join Sims, with this being the most crucial partnership of the match.
The boys batted well with Sims finding the boundary on four occasions to retire on 26 off his 45 allotted balls.
Domaschenz came to the middle but a short ball by Deane ended Geary’s innings and soon after a leading edge by Domaschenz – also off Deane’s bowling – skied towards mid off with Jett Werchon running back to take an absolute screamer to end his innings.
Jagger Geary came to the crease and showed intent with a massive six off the bowling off Hateley, but he came undone soon after when he pushed an Oskar Howell ball towards cover and Sam Hunt took the catch to end his innings.
This left South 6/67 with drinks taken.
The opening bowlers then returned with a little cameo from Jace Maxwell giving South some hope, but an over to remember by Ashton Linder struck a dagger in the heart of South, taking three wickets in the space of the alloted six balls.
The stand-out was an unbelievable catch from player of the match Brayden Rowe.
This brought the returning Sims to the crease, but Kallan Bevan ended the game with a great caught and bowled to deliver the Millicent boys the premiership.
It was a fitting way to end the match with the captain finishing the job.
Lindner led the bowling with three wickets and Deane and Bevan with two each.
The game was well umpired by Craig Hicks and his choice of Rowe as player of the match was an obvious selecttion after his great innings of 41 not out and also taking a wicket and the catch which had to be seen to be believed.
