2019-20 SEASON CLUB REVIEW SERIES:
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HAVING fought so hard to just get itself into the finals, Emu Creek's 2019-20 premiership opportunity in the Emu Valley Cricket Association was ultimately cut short by the cornoavirus crisis.
The Emus would have played United in the grand final, but not a ball was bowled - the match abandoned following Cricket Australia recommendations for all cricket to cease during the pandemic.
As a result, the premiership was awarded to the higher-placed United, leaving the Emus' gallant effort to claw back from an ordinary start to the season when they lost their first two games to lowly California Gully and West Bendigo all in vain.
The Emus had just one win on the board after five rounds, but with their season on the brink they launched a fighting revival.
They won seven of their next eight games, including a gritty four-run victory over top side Spring Gully in the last round, to secure fourth spot by just two points from Maiden Gully.
The Emus carried that momentum into the semi-final, again against the Crows, the following week, grinding out a gripping one-wicket win after recovering from 4-40 chasing 148 to set up their grand final opportunity that never came to fruition as they had to settle for runners-up.
The Emus' standout player of the season was all-rounder Luke Bennett, who led Emu Creek in runs (517), wickets (22) and MVP points (977) to earn a berth in the EVCA Team of the Year as an opening batsman.
IN A NUTSHELL
Record - 9-4-2
Finished - 2nd
Batting rank - 5th
Bowling rank - 3rd
Average scores:
Batting - 245
Bowling - 187
SEASON RESULTS
Round 1: 9-167 lt California Gully 221
Round 2: 9-295 lt West Bendigo 6-365
Round 3: 314 drew United 0-0
Round 4: 179 & 149 def Mandurang 111
Round 5: 187 lt Sedgwick 271
Round 6: 5-203 def California Gully 145
Round 7: 6-265 def Axe Creek 140 & 99 (outright)
Round 8: 8-230 def Marong 121
Round 9: 7-165 lt Spring Gully 2-180
Round 10: 4-132 def West Bendigo 127
Round 11: 8-213 def Marong 121
Round 12: 234 def Maiden Gully 167
Round 13: 186 def Spring Gully 182
Semi-final: 9-153 def Spring Gully 148
Grand final: drew United (cancelled)
LADDER POSITIONS
Round 1: 6th (0-1)
Round 2: 8th (0-2)
Round 3: 8th (0-2-1)
Round 4: 7th (1-2-1)
Round 5: 7th (1-3-1)
Round 6: 6th (2-3-1)
Round 7: 5th (3-3-1)
Round 8: 5th (4-3-1)
Round 9: 5th (4-4-1)
Round 10: 5th (5-4-1)
Round 11: 5th (6-4-1)
Round 12: 4th (7-4-1)
Round 13: 4th (8-4-1)
TOP 5 BATSMEN
1 - Luke Bennett
Runs: 517 Innings: 15
Avr: 34.47 High: 109
100s: 2 50s: 1
League rank: 3
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2 - Simon Marwood
Runs: 419 Innings: 15
Avr: 27.93 High: 64
100s: 0 50s: 4
League rank: 11
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3 - Brent Downie
Runs: 316 Innings: 11
Avr: 31.60 High: 67
100s: 0 50s: 3
League rank: 20
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4 - Todd Brown
Runs: 305 Innings: 14
Avr: 21.79 High: 72
100s: 0 50s: 2
League rank: 22
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5 - Coby Hansen
Runs: 273 Innings: 12
Avr: 24.82 High: 56
100s: 0 50s: 2
League rank: 30
TOP 5 BOWLERS
1 - Luke Bennett
Wickets: 22 Overs: 122
Avr: 17.68 Best: 6-43
Strike: 33.27 5W Inns: 2
League rank: 15
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2 - Anthony Collins
Wickets: 21 Overs: 86
Avr: 12.62 Best: 7-60
Strike: 24.57 5W Inns: 1
League rank: 17
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3 - Justin Hancock
Wickets: 16 Overs: 93
Avr: 18.75 Best: 3-12
Strike: 34.88 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 20
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4 - Torin Petrie
Wickets: 11 Overs: 54
Avr: 18.09 Best: 3-15
Strike: 29.45 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 38
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5 - Todd Brown
Wickets: 11 Overs: 103
Avr: 27.82 Best: 4-28
Strike: 56.18 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 41
TOP 5 MVP POINTS
1 - Luke Bennett
Points: 977
Runs: 517 Wickets: 22
Fielding: 2
League rank: 5
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2 - Simon Marwood
Points: 649
Runs: 419 Wickets: 9
Fielding: 4
League rank: 21
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3 - Justin Hancock
Points: 586
Runs: 231 Wickets: 16
Fielding: 3
League rank: 30
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4 - Todd Brown
Points: 570
Runs: 305 Wickets: 11
Fielding: 4
League rank: 31
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5 - Torin Petrie
Points: 499
Runs: 209 Wickets: 11
Fielding: 7
League rank: 36
CENTURIES
109 - Luke Bennett
vs Axe Creek, rd 7
101 - Luke Bennett
vs West Bendigo, rd 2
FIVE-FORS
7-60 - Anthony Collins
vs Mandurang, rd 4
6-43 - Luke Bennett
vs Axe Creek, rd 7
5-21 - Luke Bennett
vs Spring Gully, semi-final
TWENTY20 COMPETITION
Record - 1-3
MOST RUNS:
Simon Marwood - 102
MOST WICKETS:
Simon Marwood - 4
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