D GRADE
Euroa travelled to face Nagambie at the Nagambie Primary School in Round two of the D Grade competition (S. J. Perry Shield).
Captain Connor McCombe won the toss and elected to bat first.
Mitch Gleeson came out firing, blasting 31 off just 14 balls, which included five boundaries and a six.
As Euroa rocketed to 0/39, Leo Murphy played a steady hand, while Ethan Saxon kept the scoreboard ticking with 16 (12), striking a pair of crisp fours.
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After a brief stumble through the middle order, Connor McCombe (20 off 34) steadied the innings with a composed knock.
The highlight of the innings came from Jack Walters, who smashed 21 from just 11 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six.
One of his fours even ended up in the neighbour’s backyard after ricocheting off the bar of the nearby soccer net.
Late contributions from the tail saw Euroa post 144 all out in the 33rd over.
With the ball, Euroa fought hard from the outset.
McCombe broke the opening stand and later removed the top scorer with a peach.
Cooper Goodall was superb, taking 3/34 with excellent control through the middle overs, while Jack Wilson chipped in with two quick wickets to swing the momentum back towards the visitors.
Sharp catches from Saxon, Bjorksten, and McCombe kept Euroa in the contest right to the end, but Nagambie managed to scrape past the total in the dying overs, finishing 7/148.
It was an agonisingly close result, with Euroa falling just three wickets short of a famous away win.
D Grade has the bye next week, before hosting Old Students on November 8 for their first home match of the season at the Memorial Oval with first ball at 12:30pm.
SCORECARD: Euroa 144 (M. Gleeson 31, J. Walters 21) defeated by Nagambie 7/148 (C. Goodall 3-34, J. Wilson 2-20) by three wickets.
B Grade had the bye this week.
In Round three, they’ll take on Waaia at the Friendlies in another one dayer, starting at 12:30pm.
UNDER 12s
The Euroa Under 12s kicked off their home campaign in style, overcoming reigning premiers Old Students in a thrilling 15-run victory that went right down to the final over.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Euroa endured a shaky start when Henry Williamson was run out early for just one.
Tom Goss and Jaegar Saxon then steadied the ship with a composed 40-run stand for the second wicket.
Goss contributed a patient nine before falling, while Saxon was in sublime touch, retiring on a powerful 29 not out.
Momentum continued to build as Charlie Hemeter (19*), Selby Bourke (12*), and Ted Jacotine (6*) kept the scoreboard ticking.
At the halfway mark, Euroa sat comfortably at 3/86 from 12 overs.
When Saxon and Hemeter returned to the middle late in the innings, the pair shifted gears spectacularly.
Saxon brought up his maiden half century with a crisp boundary, finishing unbeaten on 52 in a commanding display of stroke play.
Hemeter complemented him brilliantly, launching two towering sixes on his way to a rapid 43 not out.
Their partnership ensured Euroa reached an imposing total of 5/149 from their 20 overs.
Old Students began their reply confidently, finding boundaries early before Williamson struck, clean bowling Ollie James for 16.
The visitors continued to threaten, with Corey Gibson (27) and Basil Piper (15*) providing resistance, but Euroa’s bowlers kept their nerve under pressure.
A crucial turning point came when Saxon dismissed the dangerous Nixon Bovalino for 11, thanks to a sharp catch from Bailey Nunn.
From there, Euroa wrestled back control with tidy spells from Bourke (1/11) and Goss, along with two well executed run outs that swung momentum their way.
With Old Students still in the contest heading into the final over, Saxon produced the decisive blow by clean bowling Gibson with his first ball to seal the win.
The reigning premiers were bowled out for 134, falling 15 runs short of the target.
It was a complete performance from Euroa, highlighted by Saxon’s all round heroics, 52 not out and 2/14, with strong contributions across the team.
The thrilling finish provided a fitting showcase of teamwork, composure, and young talent in front of a lively home crowd.
SCORECARD: Euroa: 5/149 (J. Saxon 52*, C. Hemeter 43*) defeated Old Students: 134 (Saxon 2/14, S. Bourke 1/11).
