LAST week the future stars of the Swan Hill District Cricket Association (SHDCA) strutted their stuff at Junior Country Week, taking on their counterparts from the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA).
While the SCA won each three-match series in the under 13s, 15s and 17s divisions, there was more than enough solid team and individual performances to show the future of cricket in the region is in safe hands.
Matches were played across Swan Hill and Kerang from Tuesday to Thursday last week, with the players braving scorching temperatures.
The big boys in the under 17s came close to snatching victory in their first match when Sunraysia passed their total of 79 eight wickets down.
Wandella opening bowler Bohden McKnight was superb with the ball, finishing with 3/12 from eight overs.
Not to be outdone, Charlie King (2/7 off five overs) and Koben Ryan (3/13 off five) utilised their knowledge of Ken Harrison Reserve to perfection.
Travelling down to Kerang for the second match, the boys couldn’t match their efforts of the previous day, losing by 137 runs.
Back in Swan Hill and on the Showgrounds for the final match, Sunraysia gave them enough chances to win the dead rubber, but a couple of grassed catches ensured a clean sweep for the away side.
Jacob Hatcher made a nicely compiled 56 and was partnered well by King (25) in a 75-run opening partnership that ensured a good total of 116 was put on the board from the 30 overs.
Sunraysia passed the target with three wickets and 13 balls to spare.
Les Cooper put in the performance of the week for the 17s though, almost dragging his side over the line with a five-wicket haul from just 4.5 overs.
The under 15s series was a much closer affair with the series going to a decider at Alan Garden Reserve.
Unfortunately, Sunraysia took the contest to win the series 2-1 – chasing down a strong target of 140, only five wickets down.
Charlie Kingwell (66) was the man of the match for the SHDCA.
A day earlier, the under 15s took the series to that decider by demolishing Sunraysia by 65 runs.
Kingwell was once more the star of the show taking an incredible 5/11 from his seven overs.
In the under 13s match-up, Sunraysia ensured they didn’t have to go to a decider by winning the first two games.
Coming in at No.8, Jarra Kelly smashed 68 not out of 92 balls to give the SHDCA a total of 9/127 in the first match of the series at Woorinen.
Sunraysia managed to chase it down with four wickets to spare.
The 13s once again fought hard the next down in Kerang, going down by three wickets.
Chasing 122 to win, Sunraysia was 7/73 before a match-winning eight-wicket stand stole victory off the SHDCA.
