COHUNA United’s Northern District Cricket Association A Grade side has surpassed its efforts of last season in the space of seven rounds.
Led by an all-round bowling display, as well as the batting attributes of Bradley Griffiths and Matt Robinson, United moved to third on the ladder thanks to a two-wicket win against Cohuna Recreation Reserve co-tenants, Nondies.
Sent in to bat, Jack Donat (70), Sam O’Shea (29) and Charlie O’Shea (20) were the only three Nondies players to reach double figures as the hosts reached 9/143 in its 45 overs.
The 62-run fifth wicket stand between Donat and Sam O’Shea was pivotal to Nondies’ hopes after the hosts were 4/27 at one stage
Four of United’s six bowlers – Robinson, Ryan Barnes, Ian Mathers and Logan Spittal – each took two wickets to give the visitors the chance of a third win of the season.
Griffiths played a role in four key partnerships during United’s reply, but his dismissal at 4/74 sparked a collapse that saw the visitors lose four wickets for eight runs – three of those taken by Rhys Bradley.
Robinson and Spittal’s 52-run eighth wicket stand rejuvenated United’s innings, with the competition’s third-placed side reaching 8/151 off its 45 overs.
Meanwhile, Wandella moved to top of the ladder following a one-wicket win against Barham/Koondrook.
Sent in to bat, Paul Molin (73 not out) helped the border side reach 6/151 in its 45 overs.
Daniel Higgs (two wickets) helped the Bombers have the hosts struggling at 5/73, before Molin put together two key partnerships with Laine Gibbons and Marc O’Neill.
In reply, the Bombers’ top and middle order struggled, with the visitors’ score being 5/61 when Brodey Farley joined Greg Dickson at the crease.
The pair put together a 68-run sixth-wicket stand, but the hosts regained the momentum after dismissing Dickson (62) and Farley (32) in the space of four runs, leaving the Bombers needing 19 runs with three wickets to spare.
An eighth wicket with eight runs still needed had Barham/Koondrook on the brink of its first win of the season, but Liam Jardine, Brad Murray and Tyler Schmidt guided Wandella to a fourth victory of the season.
Garry and Warren Lolicato, as well as O’Neill, finished with two wickets each for the border side.
Nondies back on top
NONDIES reclaimed top spot on the Northern District Cricket Association B Grade ladder following a seven-wicket win against Kerang Fairley Town.
Benefiting from defending premiers, Wandella having the bye, Liam Pascoe (115 not out) and Blake Cooke (66) ensured the visitors would record a fifth win of the season to remain undefeated after seven rounds.
Electing to bat first, Brad Lake (35) was one of three Kerang Fairley Town batsmen to reach double figures as the hosts posted 8/130 off its 40 overs.
Six of Nondies’ eight bowlers took wickets, with Pascoe the only bowler to claim more than one scalp.
Nondies struggled early in its reply, falling to 3/24 when Pascoe joined Cooke at the crease.
The pair’s 108-run fourth-wicket stand helped the visitors claim the points, whilst a 77-run fifth-wicket stand between Pascoe and Cody Peterken helped Nondies score 6/229 off its 40 overs.
Leitchville/Gunbower also moved above Wandella on the ladder thanks to a three-wicket win against Wandella Warriors.
Sent in to bat first, the Warriors struggled against the hosts’ bowling, specifically Toby Duncan (three wickets), as well as accurate fielding.
The Warriors were 6/39 at one stage – with Jason Williams’ 25 runs dominating the scoreline – before Ashley McKnight (28 not out) and Craig McGrath (23) put together a 54-run seventh-wicket stand that gave the Warriors’ bowlers a chance.
Chasing 108 runs for victory, Leitchville/Gunbower also struggled, slumping to 7/65 following a dominant spell from Williams (three wicket).
However, Jason Keath (52 not out) led a home-side revival that secured the win and a total of 124 off 33.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Cohuna United fell two wickets short of recording its first win of the season, with Barham/Koondrook holding on to remain entrenched in the top four.
Sent in to bat first, Darren Hancock (48) was the only United batsman to score more than 20 runs as the hosts scored 9/141 off its 40 overs.
In an all-round bowling effort, six of the border side’s seven bowlers all claimed at least one wicket, with Jake Vallance (three wickets) the standout.
Brad Hein (92 not out) guided the visitors to a fourth win of the season, with Barham/Koondrook eventually scoring 8/148 off its 40 overs.
Riley Hird was United’s best bowler, thanks to his three wickets.
