While the Murrumbidgee Rangers fell in their opening game of the Regional Bash against the Border Bullets, vice-captain Theo Valeri was named as the man of the match.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat it was a tough start for the Rangers who lost Tom McGufficke (1) and Reece Matheson (1) within the first two overs.
It put the pressure right on the Rangers skipper Haydn Pascoe and his deputy Valeri and the pair were able to put on 63 runs for the third wicket before Pascoe (28) fell to the bowling of Ryan Addison (1/34).
Despite the loss of their skipper the Rangers kept the momentum with Oliver Delves playing an excellent supporting role for the in-form Valeri as the pair got their side to 132 before Delves (20) was run out before Valeri (78) fell on the final ball of the innings to see the Murrumbidgee side finish on 5/141.
The Rangers needed to take early wickets if they wanted to taste success in the opening game and were able to make a flying start with Valeri (1/23) claiming the wicket of Thomas Johnson (0) with the third ball of the innings.
The Albury side was able to find their footing with a 52-run stand for the second wicket before Jack Craig (26) was caught by Dan Hillam off the bowling of Pascoe (1/26).
The Rangers just weren't able to keep the pressure on the Bullets as Ashley Borella neared a half-century and was well supported by Tarasai Musakanda. Still, Delves was able to make the breakthrough the Murrumbidgee side needed with Ryan Greenaway holding onto a catch to dismiss Borella (47).
With the dangerous Borella back in the pavilion, the Rangers still had a chance to take the points with the Bullets requiring 40 runs off the remaining 53 deliveries.
Eight runs off Valeri's next over and 10 off Delves next over saw the Bullets start to take control, although Delves (2/14) was able to claim the wicket of Nathan Brown (14).
Unfortunately for the Rangers that was the last wicket, they were able to claim with Musakanda (25*) and Romario Greaves (23*) steering the Bullets to a six-wicket win with three overs remaining.
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Liam Warren
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
