SUNRAYSIA suffered an embarrassing loss to Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association in the Division 3 grand final of Melbourne Country Week (MCW) yesterday.
The regional side were thrashed by nine wickets in their 50-over match at Chirnsideside Park Oval.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Sunraysia struggled in difficult conditions.
Rain earlier in the week had left the pitch under-prepared and Bellarine Peninsula’s bowlers took advantage of the favourable conditions.
Opener Josh Berry top-scored with 12 off 60 balls, with Shaun Matthews (10) the only other player to reach double figures, as Sunraysia collapsed to be all out for 63 off 36.4 overs.
Bellarine Peninsula made light work of the run chase, losing just one wicket as they reached their target in the 14th over.
This year’s MCW was marred by poor weather, with a number of matches being washed out.
Sunraysia started their campaign well, winning on the opening day of the carnival against Hamilton and District Cricket Association, but the remainder of their round-robin matches were washed out, including the semi-final.
This year signalled the return of Sunraysia to MCW after they withdrew in 2019.
Mildura Settlers’ Paddy Keogh was the team’s standout player of the week, scoring 80 in their only win.
Keogh did not play in the final, having had to fly to Adelaide for another commitment.
