Led by long time Echidna, Jordan Baltman, the Cs went into the season with a mix of experienced veterans and promising younger players and made a great start, winning their first five (5) matches to start the season. Young Flynn Samardzic was a highlight early, racking up scores of 51 (46), 14 (17), 76* (55) and 54* (36) across the first month before missing a couple of matches due to Schoolies and Covid. Meanwhile, new recruit Jayden Warrick, despite having a run up which changed every delivery and having only previously played about 10 matches of senior cricket, took the bowling attack by storm, taking 4/26 on debut & following up with 2/13, 5/9 and 3/30 to see him pacing the Association early with 14 wickets by mid-November.
After a disappointing loss to Echunga, the C’s got back to work, winning their next two matches, including knocking off an undefeated Ashbourne by 10 wickets (Jason Rehn starring with 3/10 from 7 overs & 49*) to sit atop the ladder at 7-1 at the Xmas break.
The Echidnas continued on their merry way after Christmas, winning the next four matches before a sudden loss of form saw them drop their last two to head into finals atop the ladder with an 11-3 record.
Highlights during the season included:-
– A dominant team performance early against Woodside, scoring 3/269 (more on that below) with openers Oscar Chapman (61) & Jason Rehn (68) putting on 125 for the 1st wicket before Flynn & Oliver Lukins (42 from 25) smashed an 89 run partnership within 10 overs for the 3rd wicket. In response, skipper Jordan lured one of the Warriors openers into a nick to Jase at slip 1st ball & from there the Warriors never got going, spluttering to 4/27 after 18 overs before eventually making their way to 7/84. All 11 Echidnas got a bowl, with 7 individual wicket takers, including wicketkeeper Jaxon Lynn for his 1st wicket in seniors & Oli for his 1st wicket since 2018;
– Posting one of the largest winning margins in club history on the eve of Xmas, making 5/271 courtesy of 153 from just 108 balls from Jason Rehn, who put on 120 for the 3rd wicket with Tim Chynoweth (39) in Tim’s 1st dig for the Echidnas (despite Tim tearing his hamstring on about 10), before Jase put on a further 101 with a then 14 yo Jaxon Lynn (39). In reply, Strath were skittled for 40 in 18.2 overs without a single batter reaching double figures, Clinton Smith the star with 4/15 whilst Jordan, Jayden & Oscar picked up 2 each;
– Those scores of 5/271 & 3/269 in the above matches both scraped into the Top 10 highest team scores in club history in one day matches (the record in a 35 over match is 294), whilst Strath’s total of 40 snuck into 10th place on the list of all time opposition lowest team scores;
– Recovering from 2/2 & 3/23 in our 1st outing at the picturesque Lenswood Oval to post 181, with Flynn once again anchoring the innings with 62, including good lower order partnerships of 47 with Cameron Roach (24) for the 6th & 41 with Mitch Richards (16) for the 7th wicket before openers Jordan (3/26) & Clinton Smith (4/14) ran amuck to have Lenswood 7/40 after 14 overs, allowing Jordan to throw the ball around, including to Mitch who despite bowling an 11 ball over, collected a wicket (his 1st since 2018);
– The next week against Hahndorf, scoring a relatively tame 6/237, led by Jase who made his 2nd century of the season (112) before being retired & Oscar Chapman (70), who put on 187 for the 1st wicket (likely a record for C’s – we know that the 1st wicket record in any grade for WCC is 200, scored in B’s in 2001 by Brett “Junior” Heinrich (110) & Brendan “Barb” Nettle (84));
– Finally, our Grand Final victory against Ashbourne (who were the reigning 2 x C Grade Premiers). Having lost to Ashbourne just a fortnight earlier at the same venue after failing to defend 176, we showed great perseverance to successfully defend 165 despite Ashbourne stalwart Anthony Farrugia scoring 83 (after having made 121* in the previous match).
From an individual perspective:-
– Jason Rehn had a record-breaking campaign, with his 654 runs being the most in C Grade in a season in club history, whilst his 153 against Strath was also the highest ever individual score in C’s in WCC history & the 2nd highest individual score in a one dayer (behind only Lloyd “Bing” Bilney’s famous 200* in 1987 – made after being dropped on 0!;
– Flynn Samardzic, who will surely be playing A2s next season after scoring 390 runs @ 55.71, including five 50’s, leading the Batting Average all season before being pipped by Jase only after the GF. Flynn also proved a very reliable fielder on the boundary, finishing with the most catches with ten (10);
– Oscar Chapman, who matured considerably as a batter, scoring 274 runs @ 27.40, including his 1st two 50’s in seniors for the WCC to form a formidable opening duo with his idol, Jase. Oscar also pitched in with 8 wickets (including 3/20 in the GF), 6 catches & 2 run outs;
– Jaxon, who despite being a first year U16 showed that he is not lacking any of his Dad’s considerable cricketing talent & poise, scoring 127 runs @ 25.40 (failing to reach double figures just once), including a crucial 28 in the GF in a 57 run partnership with Jase. Jacko immediately became the 1st choice keeper (despite a plethora of options including Jase, Max Chapman & Tim Chynoweth), taking 7 catches & a staggering 6 stumpings – for reference, 6 stumpings is enough to feature in the Top 10 for most CAREER stumpings in Club history!;
– Jayden, who finished his 1st season for the Echidnas with 24 wickets @ 11.04 and also proved very reliable in the field with 7 catches. Whilst batting was not his forte, Jayden did manage to hit a six;
– Clinton Smith, who claimed the Bowling Aggregate with 26 wickets, his 5th straight season claiming at least one of the Bowling Aggregate or Average in whichever grade he has played. “Hillary” also chipped in with 100 runs including 13* from 4 balls in the GF; and
– Finally, the trio of skipper Jordan Baltman, Hayden Bolto & Oliver Lukins, who claimed a trio of Premierships together after having also played in the 2012/13 B Grade & 2015/16 C Grade Premierships.
