A Grade all-rounder Ben Welsh continued on his fine form with 86 not out while also picking up three wickets.
Photo by
L.GARBUTT
Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club will be well represented in the senior grades of the Wangaratta District Cricket Association’s Grand Finals this weekend, with A Grade, A Reserve, and C Grade all looking to claim the 2025/2026 premiership after convincing wins in their respective preliminary finals.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Lakers’ families and supporters are invited to the club’s final season dinner this Thursday evening.
A Grade swoop on Magpies
Fraser Smart put on a solid partnership with Ben Welsh in A Grade preliminary final clash.
Photo by
L.GARBUTT
A Grade continued their late-season winning form with a strong victory against the Wangaratta Magpies on Saturday.
The Lakers stormed home in the latter part of the home-and-away season to claim a home final and aim to return to the big one.
Captain Archibald lost the toss but got the result they wanted, with the side sent into bat first.
Smart and Clarke began proceedings before Clarke was dismissed with the score on 9.
The in-form Ben Welsh, soon to be Hampsthwaite captain in North Yorkshire, made his way to the crease to put the Lakers in a winning position.
The pair put on a solid 49-run partnership before Smart was caught behind for 22.
Webb walked out next after Kyle Archibald successfully appealed to lift a one-match ban, but he lasted only 8 runs before holing out with the score at 3/75.
The team needed a solid partnership to get the scoreboard moving, and Welsh and Brock McCabe delivered, taking quick singles and hitting some blistering boundaries.
Welsh brought up another half-century in the process.
McCabe was caught behind hooking the ball, and Willie Wheeler followed shortly after being caught in the covers.
Harry Wheeler was next to fall, cutting the ball to point, leaving the score at 6/135.
With less than 10 overs remaining, Welsh and Fraser accelerated the scoring, blasting the ball to all areas to take the Lakers to 6/188.
Welsh finished unbeaten on 86 (7 fours and 2 sixes), and Fraser contributed a crucial unbeaten 23.
In response, the Magpies got off to a quick start, with Matheson scoring 25 before Webb removed Nanson through sharp glove work from Reid Clarke.
Matheson was soon after holing out to Matt McCabe at long-on. Heslin struck twice more to dismiss Mann and swing the game in the hosts’ favour. Thewlis and Kumar combined for 50 runs before Webb removed both in consecutive deliveries, finishing with brilliant figures of 3/21 from 9 overs.
At 5/80, the Lakers needed to maintain pressure, and Ben Welsh proved decisive, dismissing Killen with Harry Wheeler taking a ripping catch at backward square.
McCabe and Welsh combined to take the final five wickets, with McCabe’s diving effort at deep mid-wicket sealing a massive victory and sending the team into the grand final against Rovers United Bruck at Benalla Gardens.
A Reserve into Grand Final
Playing in the semi-final on Saturday, Lakers A Reserve stormed into the grand final with a convincing 58-run win against last year’s premiers, Rovers United Bruck.
Skipper Gillies had no hesitation in batting on what looked like a good wicket, and he was proven correct, putting on a 55-run partnership with Zach Moore for the first wicket.
Gillies attacked the opening bowlers, scoring 20 of his 21 runs through boundaries.
After Gillies’ dismissal, in-form Jack Hudson joined Moore but was dismissed for one. Moore followed soon after, finishing 52 from 46 balls with six boundaries.
Andrew Dishot and Ollie Cope added a 40-run partnership, scoring 24 and 15 respectively. Lach Phillips’ dismissal triggered a tail collapse, the Lakers losing the last five wickets for only 16 runs.
Hunter Frauenfelder started the bowling innings perfectly, taking wickets in his first over and again in his third, including Dean Shaw for 8. He finished with outstanding figures of 4/19 from eight overs.
Connor Dennis was next to go, clean bowled by Phillips. Ollie Connell and Aneeque Azam secured further wickets, while Tom Lovell and Jack Hudson wrapped up the innings. Rovers never gained momentum with the bat.
The Lakers will face Delatite in the decider in Beechworth this weekend.
C Grade advance to the big dance
C Grade opening bowler Kade Michael in action during the team’s preliminary final win.
Photo by
L.GARBUTT
The Lakers lost the toss and were sent in to use the shiny red Kookaburra.
Opening bowler Kade Michael, fresh from a stint with the B’s, impressed with 1/16 off 8 overs.
At the other end, veteran swing merchant Gus Browning produced an exceptional 0/9 off 8 overs.
Young Taj Parker recovered after a first-over hiccup, finishing with 2/17 off 3 overs.
T-Bone Taylor took 2/18 off 4, while Meat Eater Knight bowled 6 tight overs for 2/14. Dec Reeves stole the show with 3/14 off 5, narrowly missing a hat-trick. Greta’s top scorer was Mr. Sundries with 39, including 21 wides.
Catch of the season
Xavier “Travis Head” Colvin produced a spectacular mid-off catch, leaping higher than Alex Jesaulenko, juggling three times, and landing safely with the ball.
Dhamindu and Dec Reeves also contributed brilliant catches. Greta eventually folded for 100 off 36 overs.
In the chase, Dhamindu and Meat Eater Knight opened strongly with a 39-run partnership. Knight was given LBW and walked off without complaint, much to the umpires’ surprise.
Adam Dodd followed, scoring 31 off 20 before being stumped.
T-Bone Taylor added 17*, while Dhamindu finished 43* to guide the Lakers to 2/103 in just 15 overs, securing a grand final berth.
It has been a fantastic season for the C Grade lads, with fathers and sons enjoying cricket together.
A huge congratulations also to Arch’s A Grade and Huddie’s A Reserve teams for making their respective grand finals.
Under 14 Rams go down to Greta
YMCC 10/80 lost to Greta 2/81 at a damp Greta ground where the Rams lost the toss and were sent in on a tricky wicket. Early wickets fell with Wollington and Mitchell dismissed quickly.
Dodd and McLarty steadied the innings before Dodd lofted one to mid-wicket and McLarty was bowled soon after.
Young guns Billy Vagg and Parker Cowan defended some tight bowling and kept the scoreboard moving.
Kirsty and Jacob Richo Richardson fell shortly after.
Under-12 players Paddy Doyle and Bobby Best helped steady the side, with Bobby hitting hard and Paddy producing stylish shots.
Yarra Lakers finished all out for 80.
With seven overs remaining to bowl, the Rams struggled to take wickets as Greta reached 45 without loss.
Despite valiant efforts from Mitchell and Dodd, the Rams finished their season just short of a grand final.
A tremendous effort by the players and the club, supported by families each week.
Under 12 Bulls fall agonisingly short
The Under 12 Bulls travelled to Benalla for the grand final against the top-ranked “Red” team. Skipper Finn McDonald chose to bowl, with Bowie Isaac and George Hill starting well.
Darcy O’Dwyer took two key wickets, aided by Rosie Lidgerwood and Rory Buerkner.
Finn McDonald contributed with a wicket, while Myles Cowan and Jack O’Dwyer held out to help the side finish 82 all out.
In the batting innings, early wickets fell to excellent Benalla fielding.
Hugo Bott led a revival with support from Rory, Flynn Connell, Ollie McDonald, and Rosie.
The last-wicket pair of Myles Cowan and Jack O’Dwyer added valuable runs, finishing 18 short of the target.
The future looks bright for the Lakers, with both Under 12 teams showcasing talent and improvement throughout the season.
