Sport
5 March, 2026
Dunedoo seals top four place with epic win
Dunedoo has clinched the final spot in the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield play-offs.
Bendigo Bank ABC newcomers Dunedoo will play semi-finals in their first season after a one-wicket final-round win against the side they meet again in next Sunday’s 2025/2026 elimination final.
Dunedoo (9-215 off 39.4 overs) defeated Curban (213 all out off 37.5 overs) in a classic contest at Dunedoo on Saturday, February 28.
It was a dramatic round 14 of Gilgandra District Cricket Association, with three teams remarkably finishing on 70 points, superior run-quotient handing defending premiers Biddon-Tooraweenah the all-important second place and double chance despite its 10-run loss to Gidgee.
Biddon-Tooraweenah (1.229 run-quotient), Curban (0.948) and Dunedoo (0.866) all finished the regular season with seven wins and 70 competition points.
Gidgee (9-183 off 40 overs) did everything it could to qualify, holding out Biddon-Tooraweenah (7-173 off 40 overs) at Coonamble Sportsground.
Despite Gidgee’s 10-run victory, Dunedoo’s success meant the Coonamble-based outfit finished in fifth place on 69 points.
Gulargambone (8-131 off 40 overs) held out a gallant Coonabarabran (62 all out off 33.2 overs) at Coonabarabran, with Gular taking the minor premiership by a mammoth 20 points.
Gular (90 points) has posted 11 wins across the season, with two no-results and just one loss across 14 regular season contests.
An indication of the competitiveness of the Bendigo Bank ABC Shield is the only side to defeat Gular, Coonabarabran, finished last on run-quotient despite posting four wins across the season and toppling Gular back in round seven.
Amazingly, the gap between first and second place (20 points), was bigger than the gap between second and eighth (15 points) on the final table. .
In the other round 14 match, Town Services (135 all out in 27.3 overs) defeated USC-Marthaguy (49 all out 29.3 overs) as both teams ended their seasons.
Dunedoo seals the last play-off place
In the all-important final round clash at Dunedoo, Curban won the toss, batted and posted 213 all out, being bowled out with 13 balls left unused in the crucial Gilgandra District Cricket Association round 14 contest.
The visitors were cruising at 5-212 but lost their last five wickets for just one run.
Curban not utilising their allotted overs become crucial late in the contest when Dunedoo last-wicket pair Jake Fergusson (45 not out) and Shaun Coe (two not out) steered the hosts (9-215 off 39.4 overs) home with just two balls to spare.
Curban’s bowling attack was best served by Greg Younghusband (2-22), Anthony Barry (2-35) and Jasen Starr (2-40) who all bowled eight overs.
Nathan Duce (59) and Damian Doherty (58) had set the foundations for a successful Dunedoo chase with classy half-centuries. Doherty and Fergusson added 98 runs for the fifth wicket.
In Curban’s innings, there were many good contributions from the top-order, a pleasing sign heading into finals.
Starr top-scored with 59, while Andrew Peart (49), Doug Kelly (33), Joe Alchin (28) and Barry (18) all impressed.
Max McKenzie (3-21 off 6.5 overs) and Duce (2-34) and Coe (2-45) bowled their allotted eight overs with success and Rick Henderson took 2-39 off six overs.
All signs point to a close minor semi-final between the two sides at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra on Sunday, March 8.
Gular steam train keeps rolling on
Experience guided runaway minor premiers Gulargambone to another strong win, this time by 69 runs against Coonabarabran at Coonabarabran.
Gular were able to bat with patience to post 8-131 from 40 overs after winning the toss.
Gular skipper Brandon Hammond (31) and Tyne Chapman (27) were the anchors, the pair adding 51 runs for the fourth wicket. Jaylem Peters (19) and Grant Milgate (13) also contributed.
Coonabarabran were disciplined with ball with Ben Hjort (2-18), David Osmond (1-19) and Anthony Harris (1-23) all bowling eight quality overs apiece.
Zane Jenner (1-10) and Tom Roworth (2-22) produced nice returns off four-over efforts while skipper Lockie Hadfield bowled well early and had a decent return of 1-35 off eight overs.
Unfortunately for Coonabarabran, their late-season batting wobbles continued as they fought hard but never built momentum in the chase.
Ben Hjort’s 22 was the only double figure effort as they fell for 62 despite batting for 33.2 overs.
Every Gular bowler used was economical. Jack Warrington (2-0 off two balls) finished off the contest after Slater Peters (4-17), Hammond (2-10), Chapman (2-16) and Jaylem Peters (0-13) all delivered skilled eight-over performances.
The all-round contributions of Hammond and Chapman and Gular’s ability for other players to chip in and play versatile cricket to win in different situations has them as the form side heading into play-offs.
Gular will play defending premiers Biddon-Tooraweenah in the major semi-final at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra on Saturday, March 7.
Unlucky Gidgee miss play-offs despite good win
Mark Stewart was in the runs again as Gidgee posted a good 10-run win against Biddon-Tooraweenah.
Fresh off a swashbuckling hundred, Stewart’s brisk 57 came in just 15 overs and guided Gidgee to 9-183. The crucial chip-ins came from Elvy McEwen (26), Matthew Fernando (18), Jarrod Rae (18 not out), Mitch Nalder (17), Jeremy Hare (16) and Matthew Fernando (13).
Paul Lambell (2-14, five maidens) was Biddon-Tooraweenah’s best with the ball while Jeremy Cosier (2-33), Clint Walker (2-47) and Bailey Wykes (1-41) also delivered eight-over efforts. Lachlan Ferguson (2-22 off four overs) was also good at the death.
While being defeated, a pleasing sign for Biddon-Tooraweenah would batting out the 40 overs (scoring 7-173) despite losing anchors Jaimie Zell and Ferguson early. It is a good sign going into 45-over finals cricket.
Lambell (45), Luke Harrison (41), Ethan Smith (36) and Bevan Peart (20) all spent plenty of time at the crease as Biddon-Tooraweenah rebounded from 2-2 to be 4-144 after 37 overs. The biggest partnership was 70 for the third wicket between Smith and Harrison.
Gidgee stayed on track, with Justin Fernando (4-23 off seven overs), Elvy McEwen (1-16 off eight overs), Jarrod Page (1-36 off six overs) and Joe Goldsmith (1-35 off eight overs) all claiming wickets to seal victory.
Gidgee will rue a round one forfeit which essentially cost them a place in the major semi-final.
Town crushes USC-Marthaguy’s fleeting hopes
A destructive 69 not out from key Town Services bat Liam Zell ended USC-Marthaguy’s outside finals hopes at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra.
Those finals aspirations for the 2023/2024 champions were minimal as USC-Marthaguy were also relying on other results which didn’t go their way, but Zell ensured the Warren’s side early exit alongside Town Services when he six sixes and five fours.
Only Town Services skipper Ashley Hazelton (17) and Ty Sutherland (11) also reached double figures for the hosts as they made 135 all out in quick time.
Charlie Calvert (5-33) bowled well for USC-Marthaguy and received great support from Harry Gaynor (2-19) who also delivered eight overs.
In reply, USC-Marthaguy were knocked over for just 49.
Adam Hazelton (4-15 off eight overs) and Alex Sutherland (3-7 off six overs, three maidens) ripped the heart of USC-Marthaguy and Ashley Hazelton (2-4 off five overs, three maidens) and Jett Grimshaw (1-4) finished things off. Earlier Mark Temple (0-14 off eight overs) built pressure.
Only Charles Howard (12) and Mark Glasson (11) made double figures for USC-Marthaguy.
USC-Marthaguy (63, five wins) finished sixth with Town Services (55, five wins) in seventh.
Final table – 2025/2026 Bendigo Bank ABC Shield:
Gulargambone 90 points (11 wins), Biddon-Tooraweenah 70 (seven wins, 1.229 run-quotient), Curban 70 (seven wins, 0.948), Dunedoo 70 (seven wins, 0.866); Gidgee 69 (seven wins), USC-Marthaguy 63 (five wins), Town Services (55, five wins), Coonabarabran (55, four wins).
Gilgandra District Cricket Association – 2025/2026 Bendigo Bank ABC Shield semi-finals – week one. (Note: All finals matches are 45 overs per side).
Major semi-final 12.30pm on Saturday, March 7 at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra: Gulargambone (minor premiers) versus Biddon-Tooraweenah (second).
Minor semi-final 12.30pm on Sunday, March 8 at McGrane Oval, Gilgandra: Curban (third) versus Dunedoo (fourth).
