DEFENDING Northern District Cricket Association A Grade premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower proved on Saturday it is on track to claim a fourth title in five seasons, thanks to a seven-wicket win against challengers, Barham/Koondrook.
Jack Lunghusen claimed career-best figures of 6/33 with the ball, before equalling his highest score with the bat to guide the composite team to its eighth victory of the season.
Sent in to bat first, Blake Chant (42) and Paul Molin (35) provided a platform for the border side to score a suitable total to defend.
However, the hosts lost seven wickets for 39 runs – thanks to Lunghusen – to finish its 45 overs at 9/153.
Leitchville/Gunbower’s top order were all able to produce starts with the bat, with Barham/Koondrook’s bowlers struggling to prevent the side from chasing down the winning score.
Casey McNaught (63) and Lunghusen (58) helped the visitors pass the winning target with seven wickets in hand, before the composite side ended its 45 overs at 4/215.
The result increased Leitchville/Gunbower’s advantage over the border side to 11.1 points with five rounds remaining.
Meanwhile, Wandella confirmed its spot in the finals following a 91-run win against Nondies at Riverside Park.
Led by five wickets from Mick Bott and Rohan Oliver with the bat, the Bombers bounced back after the side’s top order collapsed.
Five wickets to Liam Treacy left the hosts reeling at 5/42, before Oliver (65) produced a fightback to push Wandella to 164 at the conclusion of its 45 overs.
Oliver and Bott (18) produced a 40-run sixth-wicket stand to help rebuild the innings, before a 36-run partnership between Oliver and Zak Sambrooks gave the hosts a chance to produce a win.
Nondies failed to gain any traction with the bat, with Wandella captain, Isaac Hogan (three wickets) and Matt Wilkinson (two wickets) halting the visitors’ top order before Bott tore through the tail.
The win leaves Wandella one win behind Barham/Koondrook, with Nondies remaining in fourth, three victories ahead of Cohuna United.
