Sport
21 February, 2025
Thrilling final round of Bendigo Bank ABC Shield awaits after round 13 results
A thrilling final round of the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield regular season awaits with six sides still in contention for the top four.
A thrilling final round of the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield regular season awaits with six sides still in contention for the top four of the Gilgandra District Cricket Association 2024/2025 competition after a host of crucial results in round 13 on Saturday, February 15.
The only certainty is that USC-Marthaguy cannot defend their 2023/2024 premiership after a six-wicket loss to Town Services at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra eliminated the defending champions.
Meanwhile, a Curban win against Coonabarabran at Coonabarabran would ensure they take out the minor premiership after Curban’s gripping 26-run win against Gidgee at Coonamble Sportsground.
Gular was able to upset Biddon-Tooraweenah by 45 runs in the other match at Gulargambone Sportsground.
It means that Gular, who have the round 14 bye, can only sit and wait and hope both Town Services (playing Biddon-Tooraweenah) and Coonabarabran (playing Curban) lose and a minor miracle also happens with a huge loss for Town Services to severely affect Town’s run-rate.
If Town Services and Coonabarabran lose, it will mean that Town Services and Gular would be locked on 56 points.
Currently, Town Services (-0.109) has a much higher net run rate than Gular (-0.502).
Play HQ states the ladder is ranked by points average, then net run rate, then quotient.
Gilgandra District Cricket Association president Jaimie Zell confirmed that if Town Services and Gulargambone end up locked on 56 points, net run rate would decide fourth place.
“This is the tightest finish I can recall in around 40 years, with so many different scenarios possible swinging on the last round," Gilgandra District Cricket president Jaimie Zell said.
The battle for the top two and a double chance in the finals will also be interesting, but the tussle for fourth spot between Coonabarabran (who must win and hope Town Services lose), Town Services and even the remote chance of Gulargambone progressing is the most important aspect of the final round.
Town Services deliver knockout blow to defending champions
Town Services hosting USC-Marthaguy at McGrane Oval in Gilgandra was a crucial clash and the hosts were able to deliver a knockout blow to the defending champions from Warren with a six-wicket win in round 13.
The victory from Town Services means that USC-Marthaguy is now the only side that officially cannot make the finals.
That means USC-Marthaguy’s chance to defend their 2023/2024 Bendigo Bank ABC Shield title is now over.
USC-Marthaguy had players make a host of starts when they posted 133 all out off their 40 overs.
Tom Maloney top-scored with 33. Maloney and Hugh Duncan (22) put on 59 runs for the fifth wicket after the Warren side was 4-40 off 17 overs.
There were four other double-figure scores for USC-Marthaguy including Tom Storer (16), Mark Glasson (14) Archie Crisp (13) and John McKay (11) but Town Services’ consistent bowling kept making regular inroads outside of the Maloney-Duncan union.
Scott Basham (3-16 off eight overs) led the way with ball for Town Services. Mark Temple (2-32 off eight overs) was also in the wickets while Adam Hazelton (1-27 off eight overs), skipper Ashley Hazelton (1-14 off six overs) and Chris Semmler (1-15 off six overs) also bowled good spells.
Town Services (4-134 in 34 overs) batted well under pressure to record a strong win.
Ashley Hazelton (69 not out) batted through the innings to guide Town Services to victory.
Chris Semmler (35) shared an important 69-run partnership for the third wicket with Ashley Hazelton while Liam Zell (16) also contributed at the top of the order.
McKay (2-37 off eight overs) and Duncan (1-16 off eight overs) had good all-round games for USC-Marthaguy.
Gular skipper Hammond delivers match-winning innings
In a weekend where leaders led from the front, Gular skipper Brandon Hammond compiled 80 as Gular (9-142 off 40 overs) defeated Biddon-Tooraweenah (9-97 off 31.1 overs).
Hammond’s knock after Gular won the toss and batted proved the difference as Biddon-Tooraweenah had only 10 players bat and were dismissed 45 runs shy of Gular.
Last weekend’s centurion Preston Ah-See (15) and Peter Peters Snr (16) also made starts for Gulargambone. For Biddon-Tooraweenah, Jake Peart (3-27 off four overs) bagged the most wickets while Paul Lambell (2-25 off eight overs), Clint Walker (1-18 off overs) and Jon Kilby (1-10 off six overs) struck in more economical spells.
Lachlan Ferguson (33) and Luke Harrison (30) batted well for Biddon-Toora-weenah while skipper Jaimie Zell (12) and Peart (10) also made double figures.
Slater Peters (3-17 off six overs), Peter Peters Snr (2-12 off five overs), Jason Carter (2-20 off 4.1 overs) and Preston Ah-See (1-8 off four overs) did the job with the ball for Gular.
Curban engineers a Gidgee collapse to win a thriller and take top spot with one round left
Meanwhile, Curban has engineered a Gidgee collapse at Coonamble Sportsground to come home with a vital 26-run success.
Gidgee captain Mark Stewart won the toss and elected to bowl and Curban fought their way to 116 all out (35.5 overs).
Andrew Peart (29) top-scored while Luke Haling (25), Doug Kelly (19), Isaac Mills (15) and Anthony Barry (10) also contributed. Curban openers Kelly and Haling put on 36 runs for the first wicket.
Elvy McEwen (3-8 off 7.5 overs) was brilliant with the ball for Gidgee with Tyne Chapman (3-29 off eight overs), Mitch Nalder (2-17 off five overs) and Daniel Smith (1-15 off five overs) all delivered solid spells. Gidgee was moving along well at 1-58 after 13 overs in reply with Stewart (39) in an aggressive mode and Joel Godson (12) offering support. But when Kane Young-husband (2-38 off eight overs) picked up Stewart and Kelly (1-20 off eight overs) removed Godson in his final over, it triggered a massive collapse.
In a great team bowling effort, Curban took the last nine wickets for 31 runs to bowl out Gidgee for 90 (26.1 overs).
Elvy McEwen (16) did his best to get Gidgee home amongst the carnage, but hauls from Curban captain Scott Chandler (2-5 off four overs), Barry (3-21 off five overs) and Greg Younghusband (2-23 off 1.1 overs) guided Curban to victory and the top of the table.
Bendigo Bank ABC Shield ladder (provisional after round 13): Curban 61, Biddon-Tooraweenah 59, Gidgee 57, Gulargam-bone 56, Town Services 53, Coonabarabran 50, USC-Marthaguy 48.
Round 14 draw; Saturday, February 22: Coonabarabran v Curban at Coonabarabran, Town Services v Biddon-Tooraweenah at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra, USC-Marthaguy v Gidgee at Victoria Park, Warren. Bye: Gulargambone.
Maximum points any side can reach: Curban 68, Biddon-Tooraweenah 66, Gidgee 64, Town Services 60, Coonabarabran 57, *Gulargambone 56. USC-Marthaguy 55.
Minimum points any side can reach (barring any forfeits): Curban 64, Biddon-Tooraweenah 62, Gidgee 60, Town Services 56, *Gulargambone 56, Coonabarabran 53, USC-Marthaguy 51.
*indicates bye during final round. A team cannot accrue points when they have the bye.
