BARHAM/KOONDROOK’S run of consecutive wins grew to five on Saturday, with the Northern District Cricket Association A Grade competition leaders defeating Nondies by 80 runs.
Matt Thomas (94 not out) and Jack Thomas (three wickets) led the way for the premiership favourites, who made the most of being asked to bat first at Koondrook.
Nondies’ choice to bowl first reaped an early reward with the dismissal of Blake Chant with three runs on the board, but Thomas and Paul Molin (38) produced a 78-run second-wicket stand that steadied the innings.
Barham/Koondrook reached 5/180 off its 45 overs, with Will Thrum claiming two late innings wickets for the visitors.
Nondies struggled to produce any major partnerships in reply, with Sam O’Shea’s 42 runs the highlight of an innings that ended with the score at 100 after 39.3 overs.
Jack Thomas claimed three wickets for the victors, with Tom Guerra and Matt Thomas also claiming two scalps.
The win leaves the border side one victory ahead of reigning premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower at the top of the ladder, who are 4.61 points adrift.
The composite side recorded its fourth win of the season at the weekend, defeating Cohuna United by seven wickets.
Electing to bat first, United was in a good position to post a competitive score thanks to Daniel Clements (42), before his dismissal led to three wickets falling without any runs added to the scoreboard in the middle of the innings.
Ian Mathers (47 not out) helped the visitors reach 9/147 off 45 overs, with Thomas Dehne and James Keath claiming two wickets each for the hosts.
Kurt Brereton (72) and Casey McNaught (45) helped secure the win, with Austin Robinson and Marcus Rogers taking two wickets each for United.
Despite the loss, United moved to fourth on the ladder, with Wandella having the bye.
Close run continues
TWO wins separate the Northern District Cricket Association’s top five B Grade sides following Saturday’s matches.
Leitchville/Gunbower and Wandella lead the competition with five wins, with Nondies and Cohuna United both having a 4-3 record after seven rounds.
The Bombers moved back into the top two thanks to a Brodey Farley-inspired seven-run win against Nondies.
Dropping back to B Grade due to Wandella’s A Grade bye, Farley scored 48 in the Bombers’ innings of 8/146 off the maximum of 40 overs.
Aiden Thompson and Josh Treacy both took two wickets each for Nondies, with Thompson (23) and Andy Rigg combining for a 60-run opening-wicket stand in reply.
Nondies was closing in on victory when Rigg fell for 70, with the defending premiers unable to claim the remaining eight runs needing to win.
The Cohuna-based side fell for 139 in the 38th over, with Farley claiming three wickets.
Leitchville/Gunbower remains on top of the ladder thanks to a 17-run win against Barham/Koondrook.
Sent in to bat, Michael Moritz (45) and Blake Gelletly (22) produced a 64-run opening wicket stand for the eventual victors, with Alex Keath (21) helping Leitchville/Gunbower reach 8/131 off 40 overs.
Blake Watts’ three wickets kept Barham/Koondrook in the match, but despite a half-century from Steven Farrant, the border side ran out of deliveries to record a win.
Barham/Koondrook finished its 40 overs at 8/114, with Toby Duncan and Ryan Prendergast claiming three wickets each.
The loss leaves Barham/Koondrook one win outside the top four, but three victories clear of sixth-placed side, Kerang Fairley Town.
The Kerang-based team fell 20 runs short of its first win for 2016/17 at the weekend, going down to Cohuna United.
Sent in to bat first, Robert Campbell (38) was the only United batsmen to handle Kerang Fairley Town’s bowlers with confidence.
Denis Bacon claimed four wickets for the hosts, who dismissed United for 116 in the 30th over.
Despite losing early wickets, Daniel Higgs (24) and Travis Smith (22) – who produced a 31-run fourth-wicket stand with Mitchell Lake – had the hosts 36 runs away from victory with half the side still to bat.
However, four wickets from Justin Moon halted Kerang Fairley Town’s progress, with the side falling for 96 in the 23rd over.
