NUMURKAH’S under 16 and under 14 cricket teams both doubled up on their one day premierships by taking out the two day premiership against Pine Lodge and Shepparton United respectively at Vibert Reserve on Sunday, in a perfect ending to the season.

The Blues’ under 16s have not lost a match all season and were determined to take the double.

Numurkah won the toss and decided to bat first, with openers Dusty Ebborn and Callum Morris making a steady start, getting to 17 before Ebborn was dismissed for 12.

Bailey Smith joined Morris at the crease and put on 24 for the second wicket before Morris was out for 12.

With the score 2/41, Pine Lodge tightened the screws and picked up two quick wickets with no further addition to the score.

Dylan Craven was next to go with the score 5/52 and, when Kade O’Dwyer was dismissed eight runs later, the tail capitulated, losing the last four wickets for seven runs.

Numurkah was all out for 68 off 27.3 overs in what was their worse score for the season.

The Blues would have been disappointed with their batting display going into the lunch break.

“I just went in at the lunch break and asked them if anyone could give me one good reason why they couldn’t win, and they couldn’t, so they just came out and got the job done,” coach Chris O’Dwyer said.

Bailey Smith and Bailey Roberts opened the bowling, and both were fired up, keeping it tight when Smith struck for his first wicket with the score on seven.

A bowling change saw immediate impact, with Hunter Verhoeven coming on and claim two quick wickets and Dylan Baker one, and the opposition had limped to 4/26.

Pine Lodge settled and took the score to 44 before the return of Smith got the much needed breakthrough.

At 5/44 and only requiring a further 25 runs for victory, the young Blues could sniff victory and ramped up their pressure.

Roberts and Smith both took another wicket each and the opposition was 7/45. Verhoeven returned for another bowling stint and immediately reaped the rewards with another two quick wickets to his name.

Roberts claimed the last, and his second wicket, to end the game with the score on 49, a 19 run victory to the Blues.

Hunter Verhoeven received the player of the match award for his bowling figures of 4/7 off six overs.

Other wicket takers for the Blues included Bailey Smith 3/8, Bailey Roberts 2/14 and Dylan Baker 1/6.

Coach O’Dwyer became quite emotional after the game.

“I’ve been coaching this team for probably 10 or 11 years now, and we’ve lost seven or eight of these, so to finally get one is just amazing,” O’Dwyer said.

“Both sides didn’t bat well, but both sides bowled really well.”

“The boys have gone above and beyond. You often see them down at the nets having a bat.

“This hasn’t come cheaply for them, it’s been a lot of hard work, so they really deserve it and should be very proud of themselves.”

UNDER 14

After winning the one day premiership, the under 14 cricketers were also looking to double up and achieved their goal, winning by two wickets against Shepparton United.

Numurkah lost the toss and fielded first. Riley Dawson and Harry McDonald opened the bowling and looked to strike early, however the opposition batted well until Harry McDonald broke through when the score was on 15.

Shepparton United steadied and put on another 16 runs before Mitch O’Dwyer struck with his first wicket.

The opposition was looking good at 2/31, however O’Dwyer soon put an end to that running rampant alongside Matt Ward and tore through the top order with ease, claiming the next three wickets for six runs.

Shepparton United quickly found itself 5/37, however regrouped and had piled on another 25 runs before Jake Bell got the vital wicket to end the growing partnership.

Tyler Stephens claimed his first wicket with the score on 71 and Harry McDonald and Matt Ward cleaned up the tail to have Shepparton United all out for 88.

Major wicket takers for the Blues were Mitch O’Dwyer 3/3, Harry McDonald 3/8, Matt Ward 2/16, and Tyler Stephens and Jake Bell both claimed a wicket apiece.

In reply, Numurkah openers Nick Hughes and Reeve Verhoeven put on eight before Hughes was dismissed.

He was soon followed by Verhoeven and Riley Dawson and Numurkah had slumped to 3/14.

Mitch O’Dwyer and Harry McDonald set about stabilising their side and batted beautifully together, putting on a 45 run partnership before McDonald was dismissed for nine.

O’Dwyer fell four runs later for a superb 35, and Numurkah was 5/63 with Riley Dobson and Matt Ward at the crease. Together they put on 16 runs before Dobson fell for 12.

The opposition didn’t make it easy and claimed another two wickets to have the Blues 8/87. Lucas Roberts hit the winning two runs required and the players and supporters rushed on to the ground to congratulate the batsmen.

Player of the match was Mitch O’Dwyer for his all-round performance of 3/3 and 35 runs.