IT was another tough slog for California Gully in the Emu Valley Cricket Association in season 2019-20, but at least the Cobras were able to avoid a third-straight wooden spoon.
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While the Cobras won just two games, it was enough to finish above Axe Creek.
The season started on a bright note for the Cobras with a round one win by 54 runs over Emu Creek, which would go on to qualify for the grand final, but their only other victory came in round 12 against Mandurang.
New coach Marcus McKern topped the Cobras' batting with 282 runs and made the side's only century with his knock of 105 against Spring Gully in round two.
With the ball the Cobras were led by the experienced pair of Shaun O'Shea and Brad Webster, with the pair combining for 47 wickets.
O'Shea snared 24, while Webster - who in December was named in the Addy's 2010s EVCA Team of the Decade - claimed 23.
Apart from Webster and O'Shea, the only other player in double figures for wickets was Bradley Olson's 11.
With 207 runs and six fielding dismissals to go with his 24 wickets, O'Shea led the Cobras' for Addy MVP points with 747 - the fourth time in the past 11 seasons he has done so.
While it was another tough season in division one for the Cobras, whose record since winning the 2016-17 flag is just four wins from 36 games, their division three section two side was fortunate to not only play in the grand final (the EVCA's three other deciders were cancelled), but win it.
IN A NUTSHELL
Record - 2-10-1
Finished - 9th
Batting rank - 9th
Bowling rank - 8th
Average scores:
Batting - 179
Bowling - 286
SEASON RESULTS
Round 1: 221 def Emu Creek 9-167
Round 2: 225 lt Spring Gully 308
Round 3: 3-29 drew Axe Creek 141
Round 4: 168 lt Marong 7-172
Round 5: 222 lt Maiden Gully 6-282
Round 6: 145 lt Emu Creek 5-203
Round 7: 236 lt West Bendigo 6-359 & 2-54
Round 8: 197 lt United 6-198
Round 9: 155 lt Sedgwick 8-159
Round 10: 116 lt Spring Gully 7-124
Round 11: 133 lt United 3-144
Round 12: 269 def Mandurang 187
Round 13: 96 lt Sedgwick 9-253 & 2-116
LADDER POSITIONS
Round 1: 3rd (1-0)
Round 2: 6th (1-1)
Round 3: 5th (1-1-1)
Round 4: 6th (1-2-1)
Round 5: 8th (1-3-1)
Round 6: 8th (1-4-1)
Round 7: 9th (1-5-1)
Round 8: 9th (1-6-1)
Round 9: 9th (1-7-1)
Round 10: 9th (1-8-1)
Round 11: 9th (1-9-1)
Round 12: 9th (2-9-1)
Round 13: 9th (2-10-1)
TOP 5 BATSMEN
1 - Marcus McKern
Runs: 282 Innings: 11
Avr: 25.64 High: 105
100s: 1 50s: 1
League rank: 28
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2 - Travis Nolan
Runs: 261 Innings: 13
Avr: 26.10 High: 82
100s: 0 50s: 1
League rank: 33
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3 - Jesse O'Connell
Runs: 241 Innings: 9
Avr: 26.78 High: 68
100s: 0 50s: 2
League rank: 35
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4 - Shaun O'Shea
Runs: 207 Innings: 11
Avr: 20.70 High: 55
100s: 0 50s: 1
League rank: 44
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5 - Aidan White
Runs: 196 Innings: 13
Avr: 15.08 High: 52
100s: 0 50s: 1
League rank: 51
TOP 5 BOWLERS
1 - Shaun O'Shea
Wickets: 24 Overs: 148
Avr: 21.79 Best: 6-44
Strike: 37.00 5W Inns: 1
League rank: 12
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2 - Brad Webster
Wickets: 23 Overs: 185
Avr: 23.35 Best: 4-55
Strike: 48.26 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 13
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3 - Bradley Olson
Wickets: 11 Overs: 108
Avr: 26.64 Best: 3-13
Strike: 58.91 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 40
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4 - Jesse O'Connell
Wickets: 8 Overs: 35
Avr: 17.50 Best: 2-18
Strike: 26.25 5W Inns: 0
League rank: 52
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5 - Marcus McKern
Wickets: 8 Overs: 57
Avr: 28.50 Best: 5-75
Strike: 42.75 5W Inns: 1
League rank: 54
TOP 5 MVP POINTS
1 - Shaun O'Shea
Points: 747
Runs: 207 Wickets: 24
Fielding: 6
League rank: 14
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2 - Brad Webster
Points: 648
Runs: 148 Wickets: 23
Fielding: 4
League rank: 22
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3 - Marcus McKern
Points: 507
Runs: 282 Wickets: 8
Fielding: 6
League rank: 34
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4 - Jesse O'Connell
Points: 421
Runs: 241 Wickets: 8
Fielding: 2
League rank: 48
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5 - Bradley Olson
Points: 387
Runs: 137 Wickets: 11
Fielding: 3
League rank: 54
CENTURIES
105 - Marcus McKern
vs Spring Gully, rd 2
FIVE-FORS
6-44 - Shaun O'Shea
vs Mandurang, rd 12
5-75 - Marcus McKern
vs Sedgwick, rd 13
TWENTY20 COMPETITION
Record - 2-2
MOST RUNS:
Geoff West - 149
MOST WICKETS:
Jesse O'Connell - 8
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Today's edition completes the series looking back on the Bendigo District and Emu Valley cricket association's 2019-20 seasons club-by-club.
2019-20 SEASON BDCA-EVCA CLUB REVIEW SERIES:
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