BLU’s Regis Chakabva, the reigning Turner medallist, is the runaway leader on the run tally, with 357 already this season. Photo: Bruce Povey.
A wash-out this weekend denied us the opportunity for a conclusion to the ongoing two-day fixtures in the McMahon Shield.
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Players were unable to add any runs and wickets to their totals, but there is plenty for the statisticians to analyse as we pass the halfway point, in rounds played at least, of the season.
Team performance
After a rocky start, defending champion Echuca is looking in good form once again, reclaiming its position on top of the ladder in recent weeks.
Echuca is also leading the run tally so far, scoring 1115 runs this campaign.
The only other side to crack 1000 is Bamawm-Lockington United who has 1039, while Leitchville-Gunbower is in third with 948 on the scoreboard.
At the other end, unsurprisingly winless duo Tongala (665) and Nondies-Cohuna (705) bring up the rear, but it may be a surprise to see Rochester, leader of the competition for much of the year, scoring the third least runs with 707.
In fairness to Rochy, it has been required to face the least overs of any side (197.5) and has lost the least overall wickets.
In terms of performing with the ball, Echuca South has the most wickets so far, the Swans’ formidable attack taking 62 in just over five games so far, while Nondies-Cohuna is bringing up the rear, taking only 27 wickets this campaign.
Individual batting
With the willow in hand, there is a clear runaway leader of the competition, and it’s a man familiar to fans of Goulburn Murray Cricket: BLU’s Regis Chakabva.
The Zimbabwean international and last season’s Turner medallist has torn up the competition again so far this year, already racing to 357 runs at a mouth-watering average of 71.4.
While he is yet to break through for a ton, Chakabva has surpassed 50 in five of his six innings in 2024-25, his best score 85 in round five against Kyabram Fire Brigade.
It is a fair way back to the second placed run-scorer, Echuca’s Brendan Moyle, who has logged 246 at an average of 41.
Echuca’s Brendan Moyle is the second-best batsman in the McMahon Shield, by total runs, so far. Photo: Aidan Briggs.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Brett Andison (202) is the only other batsman to eclipse 200 total runs so far.
Interestingly, neither of the two centurions in this year’s competition feature in the top three.
Leitchville-Gunbower’s Tyler Jones was the first man to hit three figures, belting 104 from 91 deliveries against Echuca South to get L-G on the board for the year.
The Swans’ Asantha Singappuli bettered Jones’ score by two the following weekend, putting up a more measured 106 from 183 deliveries in the two-day fixture against BLU.
Individual bowling
Echuca South’s AK Gunathilaka leads the wicket tally in the McMahon Shield with 16. Photo: Bruce Povey.
Echuca South’s bowling stocks look as lethal as ever, with the Swans boasting the current leading wicket-taker for the competition, AK Gunathilaka.
Gunathilaka has struck 16 times this season, not missing out in any of the seven innings he has bowled in so far.
Scottish import Nathan Elliott has made a good start to life at Echuca, taking 13 wickets so far. Photo: Aidan Briggs.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
A pair of Echuca quicks occupy the podium positions, Charlie Hinks dismissing 14 batsmen this season and Nathan Elliott 13.
Leitchville-Gunbower’s Simon Tatt shares third place, also owning 13 scalps in 2024-25.
While wicket-taking has not been Nondies’ strong suit thus far, it does possess the best one-innings performance within its bowling ranks, a 6-30 masterclass from Shaun Haffenden in round three against Echuca.
L-G’s Jye Keath (5-27) and Rochester’s Adam Ward (5-27) are the only other men with five-wicket hauls through seven rounds.
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