Corowa steadied with the bat after being 4 for 58. Jarred Lane top scored with 61. Photo: Rob Lacey.
Corowa’s A-Grade side suffered a heartbreaking two-wicket defeat against Albury at Billson Park, with the match balanced until the final two overs.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat, Corowa endured a shaky start.
Early wickets fell as Blake Keenes (2) and Jesse Moloney (15) departed, leaving the side at 2/24 by the 10th over.
Callum Langlands (8) and Matt Grantham (11) also fell, putting Corowa in a precarious 4/58 midway through the innings.
The momentum shifted when Hamish Starr joined Jarred Lane at the crease.
The pair stabilized the innings with a vital 92-run partnership.
Lane played a gritty 61, while Starr continued his strong pre-Christmas form, scoring 49 off 61 balls.
Blake Elliott helped Corowa reach over 200 run before being caught for 26. Photo: Rob Lacey.
Aggressive late-order contributions from Blake Elliott (26) and Jay Lavis (16) helped Corowa reach a competitive 207 from their 50 overs.
Albury began their chase aggressively, racing to 56 before Elliott struck in the 9th over. He followed up shortly after to make it 2/77.
A strong middle-order partnership then saw Albury move to 2/161 by the 32nd over, seemingly in control.
However, when Starr returned to the attack, he produced a brilliant spell, taking three quick wickets to leave Albury at 5/165.
Tyler Abley and Mark Athanitis added to the pressure, with Athanitis taking two wickets in quick succession, reducing Albury to 8/194 by the 44th over.
Despite the comeback, Corowa could not claim the final two wickets, and Albury’s tail-enders held firm, hitting the winning runs with 12 balls to spare.
Corowa now turns its attention to a crucial “must-win” clash this Saturday against Wodonga at Ball Park, a match that could define their season.
Jay Lavis (16) helped Corowa reach a competitive 207 from their 50 overs before being run out. Photo: Rob Lacey.
B Grade
A masterclass in pace bowling by young gun Eli Lavis powered Corowa’s B-Grade side to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Albury at Ball Park.
After winning the toss, Captain Aaron Phibbs elected to bowl, and Lavis made an immediate impact, clean-bowling Albury’s openers to leave them reeling at 2/11.
He continued his assault on the top order, taking three more wickets to leave Albury struggling at 5/25.
While Ethan Lane (2 wickets) provided support during a brief middle-order recovery, Lavis regained control on his return to the attack, finishing with incredible figures of 7/26 from nine overs.
Jack Eales claimed the final wicket, dismissing Albury for 125.
In response, openers Lenny Power and Dan Athanitis put on 21 runs before Power was dismissed for 7.
Athanitis then dominated, striking a blistering 63 off 45 balls, before departing at 100.
Kade Wilson supported with a steady 38, and Mick Drew (15*) and Lane guided Corowa to a comfortable 3/129, securing a comprehensive victory.
This week, Corowa faces a massive test as they travel to Wodonga to take on the ladder-leaders.
C Grade Division 1
Corowa’s C-Grade (Division 1) side recorded a comfortable away win against the Wodonga Bulldogs, thanks to a five-wicket haul from speedster Caleb Kuschert and an entertaining 32* from Matt Goodall.
Corowa bowled first on a challenging turf pitch, bundling out Wodonga for 100.
Kuschert’s raw pace was unplayable, with a perfectly executed slower ball removing the tops of off and middle stumps.
Blayre Smith (3/31) and Karvan Silva (2 wickets) provided further support, with Offie Smith also claiming a caught-and-bowled. The innings wrapped up in the 31st over.
Baxter Macfarlane contributed behind the stumps with a stumping off Silva, while fielding highlights included Cody Kuschert’s safe catch in the deep and two sharp infield dismissals by Greg Burgess.
Kuschert followed up with 22 runs at the top of the order, and Burgess (24) and Goodall (32*) completed the chase. Goodall’s innings featured five boundaries, including two consecutive sixes over mid-on and mid-wicket.
Corowa reached the target in the 22nd over, winning by five wickets.
The win moves Corowa up to second place on net run rate, behind St Pat’s but ahead of arch-rivals East Albury.
Kuschert now sits at No.17 in the competition’s champion player standings, while Silva (569) leads the medal count, followed by Smith (486) and Burgess (409).
Congratulations to Joe Lavis: Joe will be representing Country NSW in the Under 17s National Championships over the next two weeks in Brisbane QLD.
Sponsors acknowledgement
The Club thanks its sponsors for the season: A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Kilara Group, Rivalea, Terry White Chemist, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, Greenacres Motel, Thrifty, Corowa Furnishing and Floors, Wiesners, First Scaff, Naubro, Back on Track Physiotherapy, Corowa Curtain & Decor, Corowa Meats, TH Kitchens Joinery, KB Wilson Seeds, and Corowa RSL Club.
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