Sport
19 December, 2025
Walker shines behind the stumps
A RECORD breaking haul of eight catches to wicketkeeper Scott Walker has helped Lismore to a 56 run win over local rivals Derrinallum on Saturday.
Batting first in the round 11 Grenville Cricket Association match at the Derrinallum Recreation Reserve, Lismore posted 9/131 from their 40 overs.
Opener Cooper Cahill top scored with 39 from 48 balls, hitting four fours.
“Cooper stuck to his natural game, he’s been hitting the ball well,” Walker said.
Matt Murray, in his 50th game for Lismore, contributed 18 not out from 24 balls at the end of the innings.
Captain Clint Dudman made 11, in the process passing the 4000-run mark for Lismore, joining David Oman, Rex Cairns, Ross Barr and Brett McConachy as the only players to reach that mark for the club.
Derrinallum was well served by opening bowlers Khush Randhawa and Harjinder Singh who both bowled tightly.
Randhawa took 1/17 from eight overs, while Singh, on debut for Derrinallum, took 1/24 from eight, including the crucial wicket of Lismore star opener Lachie Constable for 15.
“Their opening bowlers were really good, Singh has a high action and got bounce off a good length.”
The consistent duo of Karan Brar and Paul Brisbane took two wickets each to help restrict the visitors.
“Their ground is always fantastic but it was on the slow side.
“They bowled well throughout, we felt 131 was short of where we needed to be.”
In-form Derrinallum openers Ned Uren and Karan Brar were dismissed within the first three overs to have Lismore right on top at 2/3.
The wickets kept coming with regularity as the Tigers crashed to 8/35.
With Dale Hose retiring hurt, the ninth wicket was Derrinallum’s last, with Ben Carr and Hunter Thompson adding some respectability with a 40 run partnership, the home team dismissed for 75 in the 25th over.
The final wicket was Hayden Brett’s fifth, the third career five wicket haul for the right arm seamer, with all three having come against Derrinallum.
The Brett brothers finished with seven wickets between them, Hayden finishing with 5/22 from seven overs, new ball bowler Charlie taking 2/5 from five.
Cooper Cahill took 1/19 from six, with Xavier Coutts taking the other wicket to fall.
But the standout achievement was Walker’s eight catches behind the stumps, a new club record.
Walker’s feat also saw him surpass Ross Barr’s long standing club record of 181 catches.
“It was crazy, I’d only taken two catches this season to date,” Walker said.
“The catches just kept coming, they were all off outside edges, Hayden Brett in particular was swinging the ball a mile.”
The win was crucial for Lismore’s finals hopes, going into the Christmas break in fifth position.
“The tie the week before wasn’t ideal so to win this game was super important.”
Both clubs return on January 10, with Lismore playing Rokewood at Lismore and Derrinallum travelling to Lexton.
Lismore and Derrinallum also met in the under 16s on Saturday, with Derrinallum getting the points.
Batting first, the Tigers made 93, all out in the 25th over.
Charles Turner top scored with 25 not out, with Neave Thompson and Finn Gellie both making 12.
Luke Bond led the Lismore bowling with 4/8 from three overs, with Breanna Daffy taking two wickets.
In reply, Lismore was all out for 71 in the 19th over.
Luke Bond made 32 from 25 balls, with Bailey Childs making 14.
For Derrinallum, Charles Turner took 3/8 from 4.3 overs, with Eddie Gellie taking two wickets.
Going into the Christmas break Derrinallum sit on top of the under 16 ladder, with Lismore fourth.
The under 16 competition resumes on January 31.
In the under 12s last Friday night, Lismore had the bye, while Derrinallum had a 27 run loss to Carranballac.
Batting first at the Derrinallum Recreation Reserve, Carranballac made 117 from their 20 overs.
Riley Blomeley led the Derrinallum bowlers with two wickets.
The home team replied with 90 from 20 overs.
Eddie and Finn Gellie both scored 11 each.
The under 12 competition will resume on February 6.