THE Northern District Cricket Association A Grade finalists for season 2016/17 have been decided after Barham/Koondrook ended Cohuna United’s slim hopes at the weekend.
Needing a win to keep its finals chances alive for at least one more weekend, United had no match for Garry Lolicato with the ball and Blake Chant with the bat as the border side recorded a five-wicket win away from home.
Sent in to bat, United was teetering at 3/29, before Daniel Cooke (69 not out) and Ian Mathers (67) combined for a 91-run fourth-wicket stand that gave the hosts hope it could produce an upset win.
Lolicato’s dismissal of Mathers – one of four wickets the border bowler claimed – halted United’s momentum, but a late order flurry from Cooke helped set Barham/Koondrook a 190-run victory target.
Like United in its innings, Barham/Koondrook lost three vital wickets early, but a 54-run fourth-wicket partnership between Chant (67) and Shane Guerra – who retired on 57 runs – pushed the match back in the border side’s favour.
After being 5/120, Guerra and Marc O’Neill (27) helped Barham/Koondrook to its eighth win of the season and keep the side’s chances of playing in March 4’s second semi-final alive.
Oscar Cooke took three wickets for United, whose season will finish this weekend against competition leaders, Leitchville/Gunbower.
The defending premiers all but secured the right to host the second semi-final following a five-wicket win against Wandella.
Electing to bat first, Michael Runciman (35) and Isaac Hogan (25) put together a 60-run second-wicket stand, before Brad Windridge dominated with the bat and ball for the second successive match.
Windridge claimed the scalps of Hogan, Runciman and Greg Dickson as the Bombers lost their last nine wickets for 68 runs.
Aiming to defend a 129-run target, Rohan Oliver (three wickets) and Liam Radcliffe (two wickets) helped the hosts halt Leitchville/Gunbower’s momentum with the bat.
Kurt Brereton (34) and Casey McNaught (22) put together a 51-run opening-wicket stand, before the visitors lost their first five wickets for 42 runs.
Jason Keath (59) and Windridge (36) united for a 64-run sixth-wicket stand that secured the win and an eventual innings total of 7/217.
Another twist to race
COHUNA United added another twist to the battle for the Northern District Cricket Association B Grade finals, defeating Leitchville/Gunbower by 16 runs at the weekend.
The win leaves United less than one point outside the top four, with the loss denting Leitchville/Gunbower’s hopes of finishing in the top two after Wandella received maximum points after Kerang Fairley Town forfeited its match.
Sent in to bat first, Darren Hancock (21) and Trevor Hird (20) stood out for the hosts in a low-scoring affair as United reached 7/119 off its 40 overs.
Ryan Prendergast led the way for the composite side with the ball, claiming three wickets.
However, unlike United’s innings that featured five players who scored more than 10 runs, Michael Moritz (63) and Alex Keath (16) were the only two Leitchville/Gunbower batsmen who reached double figures as the visitors were dismissed for 103 in the 33rd over.
It was an all-round bowling effort for United, with Cameron Edge, Sam Griffiths, Riley Hird and Trevor Hird each claiming two scalps.
Meanwhile, defending premiers Nondies are on track to host March 4’s second semi-final following a 36-run win against Barham/Koondrook.
Sent in to bat first, a 43-run opening-wicket stand between Wade Mathers (27) and Andy Rigg (20), as well as a 48-run eight-wicket partnership involving Rhys Free (42 not out) and Blake Cooke (16), helped Nondies reach 9/165 off its 40 overs.
The stand between Cooke and Free covered a middle order collapse led by Jesse Mayne, who took four wickets.
The border side was in control in its reply, with Steven Farrant (35) having the hosts at 2/95.
However, a 34-run, seven-wicket collapese – led by Hayden Webb (three wickets) – saw Barham/Koondrook dismissed for 129 in the 39th over.
