EAST Albury recorded the lowest score in first grade cricket on the Border when it was bundled out for a measly 17 runs by North Albury at Bunton Park on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After being set 9-212 for victory, the previously undefeated Crows capitulated with Hopper pace bowler Jake Burge taking the stunning figures of 8-13 off nine overs.
Teenager Miles Hemann-Petersen topscored with four.
East Albury was bundled out in 18 overs with coach Brett Davies saying his team needed to take ownership for the performance.
"No excuses from our end, our batting performance was embarrassing," Davies said.
"But we'll get up, dust ourselves off and get back to work.
"It'll be a long week, but I'm looking forward to how we respond next Saturday."
No excuses from our end, our batting performance was embarrassing
- Brett Davies
East Albury were reasonably satisfied after restricting North Albury to 212 but the wheels soon fell off with Coby Fitzsimmons dismissed for a duck early. It was a procession from that point.
While the Crows had no luck, Burge toyed with the batsman to show why he was named in the Border Bullets' team earlier this month.
Haydyn Roberts and Brandon Purtell grabbed one wicket each.
IN OTHER NEWS
The bowling performance comes only days after former coach Tendai Power Maruma had his suspension cut from six to four matches for making contact with Belvoir's Nat Sariman while batting.
It is believed that the previous lowest score was when Postal United posted a paltry 10/21 in 1976/77.
North Albury quick Brandon Purtell said the Hoppers never thought in their wildest dreams that they could rip through the East Albury batting line-up so quickly.
"It was a bizarre match to be part of and unbelievable to get them all out in 18 overs," Purtell said.
"After the first three or four wickets fell, we expected them to knuckle down and fight back and get somewhere close to 100 runs.
"Especially considering they were undefeated heading into the match.
"We never expected to get them all out for 17.
"I'm not too sure if it is a record but it's definitely the lowest score in the competition for quite a number of seasons.
"We never really discussed trying to go for the record while the wickets were falling.
"The message was while we were on top to just keep doing what we were doing and hopefully the record happens."
Purtell labelled the bowling performance of Burge as top-shelf against some quality opposition.
Despite several matches being washed out, Burge has taken 19 wickets and has a commanding lead in the competition's bowling aggregate.
Corowa's Jarryd Hatton is his nearest rival with 11 wickets.
"Jake really enhanced his reputation big time," he said.
"That's one of the best bowling performances that I've seen for a long time."
Purtell said while Burge thoroughly deserved all the accolades, the Hoppers' batsmen did well to post a competitive score including youngster Connor Smith who notched his first score of 50 plus in the seniors.
"It was pleasing to see young a kid in Connor make is first 50," he said.
"Haydyn Roberts also bowled well and unleashed one of the quickest deliveries I've seen for a while."
North Albury remains the only undefeated side after seven rounds to sit atop of the ladder.
The Hoppers will start favourites against New City when the pair clash at Urana Road Oval on Saturday.
Purtell said the Hoppers had laid the foundations to once again challenge for the premiership.
"It's been a promising start to the season and is exactly how we wanted to start the year."
In other matches Wodonga made light work of chasing down Lavington's meagre total of 10/81 while Mat Armstrong's 87 was the catalyst for Tallangatta's win over Albury.
Corowa notched its fourth win of the season with victory against Wodonga Raiders with St Patricks scoring a comfortable win over New City