Murrabit vs Koondrook
MURRABIT has made it three from three in a terrific start to their title defence, easily accounting for Koondrook by 72 runs.
On the other end of the spectrum, Koondrook are left reeling at 0-3.
Winning the toss and batting first, Murrabit put on a total of 8/156 from their 40 overs.
It didn’t start all too well for them, however – losing both openers in Simon Kelly (duck) and Neil Teasdale (4), leaving them 2/6.
Koondrook would continue to pick up wickets at regular intervals before Brent McKnight steadied the ship with a well-compiled 40 off 64 deliveries.
The game changer would be Matthew Micallef with his 42 from 36 balls to ensure his side posted a total above 150.
Koondrook went into the chase with some momentum after taking 3/4 at the death.
That hope was short-lived as Koondrook fell to 3/21 before they could even get into their innings.
Lachlan Laursen was the only man who could leave with his head held high, smashing 43 in an innings where he was the only man to reach double figures.
It was a special day for Murrabit’s Blake Watts, with the ball snaring 5/22 from six overs, including four wickets towards the end of the innings, which instigated an almighty collapse from Koondrook.
Both sides will head into the Swan Hill Pool and Spas NDA T20 Competition next week with completely different form lines.
Barham vs Kerang
BARHAM skipper Chameera Akurugoda and his men have destroyed Kerang to bounce back into form after their loss to Murrabit last week.
Sending Kerang into bat first proved to be a wise decision, with Barham rolling a poor Kerang side for the paltry total of 55.
Akurugoda had a day to remember with the ball taking 5/5 from his four overs, including taking two wickets in two balls twice.
Mitchell Dwyer (15) and Tyler Schmidt (10 not out) were the only men to reach double figures in an innings that included four ducks with two goldens.
Kerang, or more specifically, Declan Hogg (4/20 from eight overs), at least showed some fight for the ball.
Much like Kerang’s batting innings, the Barham scorecard had four ducks on it, but the 34 not out from opener Leigh Sobotnicki ensured a comfortable five-wicket win for Barham.
Wandella
IT was a day of two halves for Autopro Wandella in the McDonald’s Swan Hill T20 Competition.
Heading into the day with a faint flicker of hope that the grand final was still achievable, an average performance against the Tyrell Cricket Swans killed off that gleam in their first contest.
Missing star bat Gregory Dickson it was always going to prove tough to chase down the target of 142.
Youngsters Patrick Oliver (51) and Bohden McKnight (21 not out) gave the Bombers something to smile about, however, heading into their game across the road against the Sthil Shop Roodogs.
This contest proved much more fruitful.
Once again being asked to chase, the Bombers managed to restrict the Roos to a total of 9/103.
Ryan Barnes was his economical self with 2/22 from his four overs, but the star of the show with the ball was Ethan McKnight, who took 3/16 off four overs.
The chase appeared well in hand midway through the innings, with Michael Runciman (35) guiding his side to 1/71.
All hell broke loose from that point onwards as the Bombers collapsed to 7/85.
Thankfully for the Bombers, Kyle Hodges (18 not out) and Rohan Oliver (8 not out) ensured they snuck over the line with two balls to spare.
The Bombers will face the Pizza Kitchen Tigers and the Phones R Us Blues in another double-header next week.
