NYAH District have caused the season’s first big upset, handing reigning premiers St Mary’s Tyntynder a 109-run defeat.
Buoyed by the return of star all-rounder Joel Walsh and batsman Josh Domaille, the Demons produced one of their finest batting performances in years against the under-strength Bulldogs, posting a mammoth 9/248 from their 40 overs.
It proved insurmountable even for the hard-hitting St Mary’s Tyntynder batting line-up, the home side bowled out in the 34th over for 139.
Walsh scored 82 from just 57 balls after top-order batsman Charlie Boulton set the tone with 76.
Nyah District captain Ben Shadbolt was full of praise for Walsh, whose inning took his side’s score from competitive to imposing.
“When ‘Walshy’ got out there, it was a completely different pitch, it was a different game of cricket for him,” Shadbolt said.
“He just showed his class basically and turned the game on its head.
“We were already in a great position, but having a guy come in at No.4, when we’ve already set a good platform, just makes life a lot easier for everyone that comes after.
“He was super impressive, along with Charlie, who got us off to an absolute flyer.
“I’d say that was our best batting performance in a long time. I don’t recall hitting 250, even when we were playing in the 80-over format, in years.”
With St Mary’s Tyntynder front-line bowlers Robin Sebastian, Austin McKerrow and Dom Violi all missing, the home side needed to take their chances in the field.
Several dropped catches proved costly.
Jack Shannahan opened the bowling and took 2/49 and Charlie King was the most economical with 0/36.
The run chase started well for the Bulldogs, who had Jonty Chaproniere (15) and Jake Foster (25) putting 29 runs on the board within the first 21 deliveries.
Chaproniere holed out to Boulton in the deep off the bowling of Shadbolt.
Regular wickets then became a theme, with King (35) the side’s top scorer.
Shadbolt said putting on scoreboard pressure had been a focus for the Demons.
“We didn’t expect to get 250, that was a crazy score, but we knew if we had a decent target to bowl at that we would at least be in the game,” he said.
“(That total) is always going to be a tough chase, no matter who you are, so it was really good to have those runs on the board.
“With that said, we weren’t comfortable because we know how dangerous their batting line-up is, and in patches they threatened.
“Between about the sixth or seventh over until drinks, we really tightened it up with the ball and that was probably the period of the game that won it for us.
“Our bowlers executed really well and bowled to our fields and were able to take consistent wickets as well to keep them under some pressure.”
Cooper Andrews was the pick of the Nyah District bowlers, taking 3/18 from six overs, with Max Thompson (2/19 from 6.3) and Alex Wilson (1/37 from eight) also strong contributors.
