Euroa 10/76 defeated by Tatura 8/79

TOP of the ladder Euroa turned up full of confidence after an undefeated season playing against fourth placed Tatura in the 14A grade semi–final.

Tatura won the toss and sent Euroa in with an altered batting line up due to gun player Ethan Saxon missing on school duties.

The steamy conditions and a new ball allowed for some movement with a lot of wides and byes seeing Euroa off to a solid start before Ollie Spike Wilson was caught for a duck Euroa 1/10.

Jack Walters was next in and continued his good form with the bat.

He and captain Ollie Swain steadied the ship before Ollie was bowled for nine Euroa in trouble 2/27.

Euroa's batsmen then collapsed W Davey 1, K Ross 4, O Rob 5, H Wolfenden 0, P Murphy 1, S Mills 0, C Goodall 0 Euroa 9/55.

Jack Walters remained calm under pressure and sensed it was his time to push the score along.

He and our last batsmen Darby Hoare scored a much needed 20 run partnership for the last wicket before Jack Walters was bowled for 28 playing his best innings of the season.

Euroa was all out for 76 in 25 overs.

Tatura started strongly with our strike bowlers Ollie Spike Wilson and Ollie Swain unable to penetrate the Tatura defence.

An opening 23 run partnership had Euroa under pressure before Cooper Goodall struck Tatura 1/23.

Patrick Murphy then had the next batsmen out for duck with a classic catch from Will Davey.

Tatura continued to build small partnerships and went into the lunch break with their tails up.

Patrick Murphy then claimed the prized scalp of the opening batsmen for 25, Tatura 3/33.

Jack Walters took the gloves off and sent down a thunderbolt to remove the middle stump of the batsmen, leaving Tatura nervous at 4/41.

Euroa could sense they were still in the game and started to get very noisy in the field.

Patrick Murphy showed why he is one of Euroa's strike bowlers and dismissed the inform Tatura batsmen for his third wicket Tatura wobbling at 5/58.

Haimi Wolfenden continued to probe the Tatura defence with his line and length bowling.

With Tatura only needing to score at one run per over, Euroa needed quick wickets.

The leadership team decided to bring the strike bowlers back on.

Ollie Swain showed why he's regarded as a leader and took out the middle stump of R Hearn 15 making Tatura very nervous at 6/66.

Ollie Spike Wilson who bowled without luck all day then got one to nip back in and trapped the batsmen plumb lbw, Tatura trembling 7/70.

Tatura scored five more runs before captain Swain took a terrific caught and bowled Tatura shaking at 8/75 needing two runs for victory.

Unfortunately for Euroa, their batsmen drove one over the fieldsmen to win the game by 2 wickets Tatura 8/79 to Euroa 76.

Credit to the Euroa boys who never gave up.

Coach Robertson said, "Euroa never gave up; they should be very proud of their season and I'm already looking forward to coaching the boys again next year."

Special thanks to the coaching staff Owen Robertson, Tom Fogarty, Lachie Cooke, the ground staff and committee.