Sport
26 November, 2025
Baird anchors with authority
Sent in to bat in the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association match, Marnoo were forced to work hard early against a Birchip attack that bowled far better than the final total suggested.
MARNOO claimed a strong 75-run victory over Birchip Swans on Saturday, built on a well-structured batting innings and a disciplined bowling effort that capitalised on key moments throughout the match.
Sent in to bat in the Wimmera Mallee Cricket Association match, Marnoo were forced to work hard early against a Birchip attack that bowled far better than the final total suggested.
Riley Doran again led the way, delivering eight overs for just 28 runs, including three maidens, while Jonty Randall and James Paley maintained tight lines that kept scoring opportunities scarce.
At the 20-over mark, Marnoo sat at 2/60 — a reflection of Birchip’s early discipline and Marnoo’s willingness to build patiently.
The turning point, however, came after drinks. Marnoo lifted their intensity and execution, but Birchip’s fielding lapses played a role in shifting momentum.
Several dropped catches, some at pivotal moments, prevented the Swans from capitalising on the pressure they had created.
Marnoo punished those missed chances, adding a substantial 120 runs in the final 20 overs to finish at 5/187.
Nic Baird’s authoritative 57 was the innings’ anchor, while Jimmy Duxson (32) and Angus Bade (31) had earlier provided crucial stability. Late acceleration from Daniel Schaper (24 not out off 21) and Darcy Cameron (20 not out off 10) ensured Marnoo closed with real scoreboard pressure.
With such a total posted, Birchip required a standout batting performance — particularly from the in-form Doran, whose recent run of form has been central to their competitiveness.
But early wickets stalled their momentum. Hudson McCredden (27) and Connor Lee (34) produced the most resistance, yet neither could produce the match-defining innings the situation demanded.
Marnoo’s bowlers were clinical. Benjamin Newton’s superb 4/23 broke the spine of the innings, while Duxson (3/20) and Cameron (3/16) tightened the screws whenever the Swans began to settle. Birchip were eventually dismissed for 112 in the 28th over.
While the Swans bowled with intent, their dropped chances proved costly.
Marnoo, by contrast, executed their plan with patience and precision, reinforcing their status as one of the competition’s most balanced and dangerous sides.
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