ST Mary’s-Tyntynder’s push for a spot in this year’s Swan Hill District Cricket Association semi finals was ended at the hands of Nyah District on the weekend, with the reigning premiers defeating the Bulldogs by 30 runs.
With both teams missing several key players, an even contest was expected and delivered, with momentum shifting several times times throughout the course of the afternoon.
Batting first, Nyah District compiled a competitive first innings total of 147, having been bowled out in the final over of their innings.
After losing early wickets, the Demons found themselves in trouble at 6-58, before a 34 run, seventh wicket partnership between Ben Shadbolt (18) and Ash Thompson (32) added some respectability to the Nyah District total.
Ethan Curran (34 not out) then joined Thompson at the crease, with the pair putting on another 31 runs for the eighth wicket, before Thompson departed off the bowling of Robin Sebastian (4-49 off 18.2 overs).
Curran continued to tick the scoreboard along in the final overs, with the Demons eventually bowled out thanks to Sebastian and St.Mary’s-Tyntynder captain Nathaniel Holmes-Brown (4-71 off 24 overs), who bowled almost unchanged for the entire innings.
Aware that anything less than victory would see them eliminated from the finals race, St.Mary’s-Tyntynder began confidently, with their top order of Corey Daniels (23), Austin McKerrow (22), Riley Daniels (19) and Aydan Symons (12) all getting starts.
Unfortunately, none were able to go on and amass the big score that would be required to get their team over the line, with the Demons eventually bowling the Bulldogs out for 117 in the 40th over.
Cooper Andrews (three wickets), Jacob Lister and Charlie Boulton (two wickets each) were the multiple wicket takers for the Demons.
