BARHAM/KOONDROOK will have a strong representation in this weekend’s Northern District Cricket Association junior grand finals.
The border club’s under 17 and under 14 teams both qualified to play off for their respective totals after winning their semi-final encounters.
In the under 17s, Matt Thomas (50 retired not out) led the way to help the minor premiers record a four-wicket win against Scriptors.
Oscar McGraw (37) and Nick Farr-Jones (32) helped the Cohuna-based outfit score 8/120 off its 49 overs on Saturday, with Ashley Molin and Kade Watts claiming two wickets each for the hosts.
Thomas helped Barham/Koondrook recover from being 3/13 to retiring with the score being at 7/74, before the team finished its innings at 6/131.
McGraw and Patrick Doyle took two wickets each for Scriptors, whose main side also missed out on making it through to the grand final thanks to a seven-wicket loss to Wandella.
Blake Cooke (40) and Jesse Mackenzie (26) were Nondies’ best batsmen in an innings of 135, dominated by four wickets from Shannon Burton.
Liam Jardine (51 retired not out) and Toby Gray (36) not out oversaw the Bombers’ run chase, with the undefeated side scoring the winning runs in the 25th over.
In the under 14s, Barham/Koondrook produced a 27-run win against Boort-Yando, thanks to strong middle order performances from Joshua French (31) and Jordan McNeil (28).
The border side scored 9/151 off its 41 overs on Saturday, with Zac Poxon taking three wickets for Boort-Yando.
Lance Malone (44) stood out for Boort-Yando in its reply of 9/124, with Mac Scoullar taking four wickets for the victors.
The team will travel this weekend to take on Leitchville/Gunbower after the composite side produced a 155-run win against Wandella.
Jed Brereton (50 retired not out) helped the hosts score 5/207 off its 44 overs, before Mitchell Gunther took three wickets to dismiss the Bombers for 52.
