LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER sits on top of the Northern District Cricket Association A Grade ladder after the reigning premiers ended Barham/Koondrook’s seven-match winning streak.
Both sides are locked on five wins and two losses after seven matches, with 2.35 points separating the sides with 10 rounds in the season remaining.
The return of Adam Decicco from Premier League duties provided a boost for the composite side, with his 37-run effort with the bat and three-wicket haul with the ball helping to set up the 16-run win.
Electing to bat first, Kurt Brereton (50), Casey McNaught (38), Decicco and Oliver O’Shea (30) helped the hosts reach 5/207 off its 45 overs, with the innings featuring two half-century stands.
Shane and Thomas Guerra took two wickets each for the border side, who struggled to capitalise on its chances when two wickets fell in the space of five runs following the departure of Brereton and O’Shea.
Matt Thomas (59) and Blake Chant (26) gave the visitors a positive start, combining for a 52-run opening wicket stand, but the middle and lower order failed to capitalise on their starts finishing its 45 overs at 9/191.
Eight of Barham/Koondrook’s batsmen scored at least 10 runs, but could not handle the bowling efforts of Decicco and James Keath, who took two scalps.
Despite the loss, Barham/Koondrook remains two wins clear of third-placed Nondies after the Cohuna-based side lost to Wandella by eight wickets.
Matt Wilkinson led the way with the ball for the Bombers, claiming five wickets, before captain, Isaac Hogan scored 107 runs to help last season’s grand finalists record its second win of the season.
Electing to bat first, Nick Gilbert (21) and Harrison Keely (84) combined for a 67-run third-wicket stand to put the hosts in an ideal spot to post a large total.
However, Wilkinson took the last five wickets to fall – including Keely’s scalp – to restrict Nondies to 9/189 off its 45 overs.
Michael Runciman (65) and Brodey Farley (38) put the Bombers in a strong position in its reply, uniting for a 66-run opening partnership.
The loss of Farley brought Hogan to the crease, with the captain and Runciman putting together a 104-run second-wicket stand.
Hogan and Greg Dickson guided the Bombers to victory, putting together an unbeaten 80-run partnership that saw the Bombers post 2/249 off its 45 overs.
Race in two
THE Northern District Cricket Association’s B Grade finals battle continues to tighten, with two wins separating the competition’s top five sides.
Leitchville/Gunbower and Wandella both have six wins this season, with the teams adding to their successes at the weekend.
The composite side’s seven-wicket win against Nondies, as well as the Bombers’ 62-run success against Cohuna United, leaves both Cohuna-based teams locked with fifth-placed Barham/Koondrook on four wins after the border side received a walkover against Kerang Fairley Town.
Michael Moritz set up Leitchville/Gunbower’s win, claiming five wickets to help dismiss Nondies for 106 in the 34th over.
Andy Rigg (36) and Keegan Ryan (24) scored more than half of the visitors’ total, whose decision to bat first backfired.
Moritz, who scored 58 runs, then united with Josh Hawken for a 70-run opening wicket stand to secure the win.
Leitchville/Gunbower was dismissed for 191 in the 39th over, with Sam Leitch and Hayden Webb taking two wickets each for Nondies.
Across at Cohuna, Luke Murray and an all-round bowling effort helped guide the Bombers to a sixth win of the season.
Electing to bat first, a 62-run third-wicket stand between Murray (50 not out) and Jacob Wilson (36) set up Wandella’s score of 5/165 off its 40 overs.
Logan Spittal took two wickets for the hosts, who failed to capitalise on having Wandella at 2/23 early in the innings.
Despite the efforts of Darren Hancock (22) and Daniel Clements (21), United struggled in its reply, batting out its 40 overs to be 9/103 at stumps.
Michael Bott, Shannon Burton, Brad Murray and Isaac Treacy all stood out for the Bombers with the ball, with the quartet taking two wickets each.
