Sport
31 October, 2025
Middle order’s fightback
Winning the toss and batting first, Charlton never really found their rhythm, losing early wickets in clusters and slumping to 4/13 before a spirited middle-order fightback.
CHARLTON’S batting challenges proved costly as Watchem Panthers claimed a hard-fought 13-run victory in the opening round of the Wimmera-Mallee Cricket Association season at Charlton Park on Saturday.
Winning the toss and batting first, Charlton never really found their rhythm, losing early wickets in clusters and slumping to 4/13 before a spirited middle-order fightback.
The innings was steadied by Sujeesh Mohan Mohanan Sreekala, who played with confidence and timing to post an entertaining 54 from just 46 deliveries, including five boundaries and three sixes.
His knock gave Charlton some much-needed momentum, but once he fell at 83, the side again faltered, eventually dismissed for 109 in the 38th over.
For the Panthers, captain Connor Boyle led from the front with a superb spell of controlled seam bowling, finishing with 3/11 from eight overs. Austin Dean (1/5 off 8) was equally miserly, while Seamus Lowry and two fill-in bowlers each chipped in with valuable breakthroughs to keep the pressure on throughout.
In reply, Watchem faced their own challenges on a slow pitch, eventually reaching 8/121 in the 36th over to secure victory.
The lower-order contributions proved crucial, as Charlton’s bowlers worked hard to stay in the contest.
Despite the defeat, Charlton captain Hugh Sait can take positives from the team’s effort in the field and Sreekala’s standout innings.
For Watchem, the disciplined bowling and composure under pressure set a strong early-season tone. Both sides will look to build on this opening encounter, with plenty of lessons to take forward as the summer unfolds.
The St Arnaud match against Marnoo on Sunday was abandoned after heavy rain and winds.
Charlton v Watchem
Charlton 10/109 (38 overs)
Patrick Soulsby lbw b Connor Boyle 1
Ethan Soulsby c, b Connor Boyle 6
Billy Sexton c Daniel Slater b S Lowry 1
Hugh Sait c Connor Boyle b Not Named 19
Cooper Boyle c & b Not Named 1
S Sreekala b Austin Dean 54
Leigh Van Boven st Dl Slater b N Dean 7
Angus Soulsby c A Dean b Not Named 4
Ethan Needs b Not Named 0
Murphy Fitzpatrick b Connor Boyle 0
Mitchell Boyle not out 5
Extras 15 (5WD 2NB 3LB 1B)
Total 10/109 (38 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-8 Ethan Soulsby, 2-9 Patrick Soulsby, 3-9 Billy Sexton, 4-13 Cooper Boyle, 5-83 Sujeesh Mohan Mohanan Sreekala, 6-90 Hugh Sait, 7-94 Angus Soulsby, 8-94 Ethan Needs, 9-95 Murphy Fitzpatrick, 10-109 Leigh Van Boven.
Bowling Austin Dean 8–6–5–1, Connor Boyle 8–2–11–3, Seamus Lowry 6–1–16–1, Not Named 6–2–30–2, Not Named 6–1–20–2, Jam Borden 2–0–14–0, Noah Dean 2–0–9–1
Watchem 8/121 (35.5 overs)
Not Named c S Sreekala b Cooper Boyle 2
Daniel Slater b Cooper Boyle 1
Not Named b Cooper Boyle 9
Austin Dean c S Sreekala b Cooper Boyle 32
Noah Dean c Billy Sexton b Ethan Soulsby 0
Jam Borden b Cooper Boyle 25
Connor Boyle not out 28
Not Named b Mitchell Boyle 10
J Woods run out S Sreekala, M Fitzpatrick 0
Extras 14 (1WD 6NB 2LB 5B)
Total 8/121 (35.5 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-4 Player, 2-11 Daniel Slater, 3-16 Player, 4-19 Noah Dean, 5-74 Jam Borden, 6-84 Austin Dean, 7-107 Player, 8-121 Joshua Woods.
Bowling Patrick Soulsby 8–2–18–0, Cooper Boyle 8–2–15–5, Leigh Van Boven 7–1–25–0, Ethan Soulsby 2–0–11–1, Angus Soulsby 2–0–11–0, Murphy Fitzpatrick 2.5–0–16–0, Hugh Sait 5–1–15–0, Mitchell Boyle 1–0–3–1.
Watchem won by 2 wickets
Birchip v Southern Mallee
Birchip 10/163 (34.1 overs)
Hudson McCredden run out Jayson Kiem 1
Mark Trollope b S Kasaram 40
William Marks c J Moore b S Kasaram 70
Riley Doran lbw b Jack Flavel 23
James Paley c L Hateley b J Moore 6
Jonty Randall c J Kiem b Kybe Bellinger 3
Brady Paley b Jackson Moore 0
Connor Lee c P Hallam b Lenny Weir 9
Kobe Hamilton lbw Jackson Moore 2
Jack Knights c Z Robins b Kybe Bellinger 0
Lana Angel not out 0
Extras 9 (7WD 2NB)
Total 10/163 (34.1 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-1 Hudson McCredden, 2-101 Mark Trollope, 3-142 Riley Doran, 4-144 William Marks, 5-149 James Paley, 6-149 Brady Paley, 7-153 Jonty Randall, 8-156 Kobe Hamilton, 9-163 Connor Lee, 10-163 Jack Knights.
Bowling Jack Flavel 8–1–42–1, Jackson Moore 8–2–20–3, Luke Mitchell 5–0–28–0, Srikanth Reddy Kasaram 8–0–55–2, Kybe Bellinger 4.1–0–12–2, Lenny Weir 1–0–6–1.
Southern Mallee 3/164 (36.5 overs)
Leighton Hateley not out 48
Luke Mitchell st M Trollope b Riley Doran 59
Jack Flavel lbw Riley Doran 10
S Reddy Kasaram c W Marks b J Randall 10
Zachary Robins not out 24
Extras 13 (1WD 1NB 4LB 7B)
Total 3/164 (36.5 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-70 Luke Mitchell, 2-84 Jack Flavel, 3-95 Srikanth Reddy Kasaram.
Bowling Jonty Randall 8–2–24–1, William Marks 8–1–39–0, Riley Doran 8–1–36–2, Connor Lee 4–0–24–0, James Paley 7–0–13–0, Kobe Hamilton 1.5–0–17–0.
Southern Mallee won by 7 wickets
St Arnaud v Marnoo – abandoned
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