NONDIES inflicted Leitchville/Gunbower’s first loss of the 2015/16 Northern District Cricket Association season on Saturday.
The Cohuna-based side prevailed by three wickets in a tense finish that left the result undecided for 24 hours as the scorecards had to be assessed by competition management.
The competition leaders scored 8/155 off 50 overs, with Tyler Jones (59) scoring his third half-century for the season.
Jack O’Shea, Jake Thrum and Will Thrum took two wickets each for Nondies, who claimed 7/60 following a 74-run second-wicket stand between Jones and Jackson McEwen (30).
However, it was the efforts of wicketkeeper, Harrison Keely who helped Nondies produce an upset win.
Keely top-scored with 43 runs to help Nondies score 8/157 off 45 overs, with opening batsmen Jake Thrum (20) and Sam O’Shea (20) also providing assistance.
The win make up for the club’s loss to third-placed team, Wandella one weekend earlier, but the Bombers are continuing to place pressure on the second-placed side.
Wandella recorded a five-wicket win against Cohuna United in a high-scoring affair in Saturday’s other A Grade match.
Sent in to bat, Grant Cowan (58 not out) provided late order resistance to help United score 185 off 44 overs.
Matthew Webb and Zac Sambrooks took three wickets each for the Bombers, who needed to win to keep the club’s double chance battle going.
Michael Runciman (137) and Peter Moore (47) put together an 88-run opening wicket stand, with the middle order uniting with Runciman to secure the club’s sixth win of the season.
Wandella finished with 9/253 off its 45 overs, with Bradley Griffiths taking three wickets in four balls for United.
Reigning premiers’ finals hopes hit
NONDIES kept its place on top of the NDCA B Grade ladder – and made it more difficult for reigning premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower to make the finals – with a big win on Saturday.
The Cohuna-based side’s 99-run win against Leitchville/Gunbower provided the club with a points boost in its battle for top spot against Barham/Koondrook.
Lachie Harbinson (62) and Rhys Thrum (32) made the most of Nondies being asked to bat first, with the top order batsmen helping the home side score 174 off 40 overs.
Hugh McGillivray took four wickets for Leitchville/Gunbower, who would have fancied their chances to chase down the victory target.
However, Matt Pollock (18) was the only batsmen to show any resistance against Nondies.
Leitchville/Gunbower fell for 75 in the 26th over, with Wade Mathers taking five wickets for Nondies.
Leitchville/Gunbower’s finals chances received another blow, with fourth-placed Cohuna United recording a four-wicket win against third-placed Wandella.
Nick Whitfield (38) and Jack Danckert (28) made the most of the Bombers’ decision to bat first, putting together a 78-run opening wicket stand.
However, Chris Cain and Aaron Wilson took three wickets each to restrict Wandella to 8/150 off its 40 overs.
Daniel Wyatt (63) helped secure United’s sixth win of the season, with Andrew Brown (26), Peter Taylor (26) and Darren Hancock (20) helping the side make 7/177 off 40 overs.
Billy Fallon and Robert Capstick took two wickets each for the Bombers, who are now eight points behind second-placed side, Barham/Koondrook.
The border side recorded a five-wicket win against the winless Kerang Fairley Town.
Asked to bat first, Mark Higgs (26) and Nathan Moon (22) led the way for Kerang Fairley Town.
However, Jade Stewart (four wickets) and Dylan Robinson (three wickets) dominated with the ball to dismiss Kerang Fairley Town for 120 in the 39th over.
Jacob Barrington (63) and Dylan Robinson (28) guided the border side to victory before the side fell for 169 in the 31st over.
Justin Moon helped restrict Barham/Koondrook, claiming five wickets for Kerang Fairley Town.
