BARHAM KOONDROOK v ST MARY’S TYNTYNDER
BARHAM Koondrook have continued their hot start to the SHDCA season, with an eight-run victory over last year’s grand finalists St Mary’s Tyntynder at the weekend.
The Raiders’ hard-fought win locked down second spot on the ladder with their 3-1 record putting them in the box seat to sew up one of the two Kookaburra Cup grand final spots.
After winning the toss and batting first, Barham Koondrook slowly went about their work, with the Bulldogs bowling the home side out for 114 with just one ball remaining in their innings.
It was a dominant performance with the ball from St Mary’s Tyntynder, with their attack restricting the Raiders’ ability to score with tight bowling and good field placings.
Nathaniel Holmes-Brown (1/16 off eight overs), Robin Sebastian (3/12 off eight overs) and Austin Mckerrow (2/15 off eight overs) all went for two runs an over or less.
Barham Koondrook captain Garry Lolicato (33) was once again the pick of his team’s batters. Kynan Laursen (22), Warren Lolicato (19) and Chameera Akurugoda (17) also played important knocks.
Despite needing only 115 for victory, the Bulldogs’ run chase got away to a disastrous start, losing their first four wickets for just 31 runs, before a 48-run fifth-wicket partnership between Riley Daniels (27) and Mckerrow (27) got the visitors back into the contest.
That was until Riley D’Silva (2/14 off three overs) and Garry Lolicato (4/25 off 4.5 overs) combined to turn the game on its head, with St Mary’s Tyntynder losing three wickets for just one run.
Sebastian (15) and Mckerrow then teamed up to once again get momentum going the Bulldogs’ way, getting them to within 12 runs of victory, before Sebastian was bowled by D’Silva.
Mckerrow and Tim Conlon both departed with St Mary’s Tyntynder eight runs short and with 14 overs remaining.
ULTIMA TUF v RSL
RSL have secured their first points for the season after a five-wicket haul from Pat Caldwell helped dismiss Ultima TUF for just 104 on Saturday afternoon.
Defending 140, it was Caldwell who proved the thorn in the Roodogs’ side, with the veteran taking 5/14 from his eight overs, including five maidens to rip the heart out of the home side.
Key batsmen Jacob Hatcher (14), Kade Benfield (12), Josh Waldron (6) and Jordan King (1) were all among Caldwell’s victims, with Blues skipper Oscar Hier (2/24 off eight overs) and Mitch Hinton (2/34 off 5.5 overs) the other multiple wicket takers for RSL.
After falling to 8/69, some late-order hitting from Jack Delmenico (23) added some respectability to Ultima TUF’s total.
A 58-run opening partnership from RSL’s Ryan Hinton (37) and Paul Munro (18) got the Blues innings away to the perfect start, before Jordan King removed both within a matter of overs.
From there, RSL scrapped their way to 8/140 from their 40 overs, with Jett Hinton (27 not out) and Paul O’Bree (18) both playing key roles in the Blues’ total.
Lachlan Edwards (3/12 off eight overs) was the pick of the Ultima TUF bowlers, with Lleyton Purcell and King also taking two wickets each.
