COHUNA United ended its Northern District Cricket Association A Grade season with an eight-wicket win against minor premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower in a match that only saw three wickets fall in 90 overs of play.
Going into the match knowing its season would end once the final bowl of the match was delivered, United could only watch on as Leitchville/Gunbower openers, Kurt Brereton and Casy McNaught both scored centuries.
Brereton retired on 103, whilst McNaught was 107 not out when the home side finished its 45 overs at 0/241.
United responded with its best performance with the bat this season, led by a 152-run opening-wicket stand between Daniel Clements and Blake Griffiths.
Clements (76) and Griffiths (58) both fell in the space of eight runs, but Ian Mathers (46 not out) and Daniel Cooke (36) helped United produce an unlikely win and finish its 45 overs at 3/256.
The result had no impact on where the teams will finish on the ladder, with the composite side to host the second semi-final on March 4.
The reigning premiers’ opponent is still to be determined after Barham/Koondrook failed to wrap up a double chance.
The border side went down to Nondies by eight runs in a close finish.
Josh Novoselek made the most of being asked to bat first, with the Nondies captain scoring 106 in his team’s total of 190.
Marc O’Neill claimed three wickets for the hosts, whose reply featured a 70-run fourth-wicket stand between Paul Molin (54) and Shane Guerra (48).
The pair gave Barham/Koondrook the chance to win, but three late wickets to Charlie O’Shea helped Nondies record a fifth victory of the season.
Down to the wire
RUNS and wickets will be vital in determining which team hosts the Northern District Cricket Association B Grade second semi-final on March 4 after Wandella defeated Nondies by eight wickets at the weekend.
Six wickets to Brad Murray helped the Bombers move to within 0.02 of top spot on the ladder with one round of the season remaining.
Murray’s efforts with the ball helped dismiss the defending premiers for 75, with Liam Jardine (33) and Sam Radcliffe (25) helping to see the Bombers reach 6/124 in reply.
Barham/Koondrook’s slim finals hopes received another blow at the weekend, with the side going down to Leitchville/Gunbower by 93 runs.
Ryan Prendergast (44) and Blake Gelletly (35) stood out with the bat in Leitchville/Gunbower’s innings of 153, with Brad Lake and Jade Stewart claiming three wickets each for the border side.
Todd Gelletly and Josh Hawken dominated with the ball for the hosts, with the pair claiming three wickets to dismiss Barham/Koondrook for 60 in the 21st over.
The result gave Cohuna United the edge in the battle for fourth spot on the ladder, with the team defeating Kerang Fairley Town by 139 runs.
Darren Hancock (85 not out) helped United recover from the loss of early wickets – led by four scalps from Ayush Chopra – to finish its 40 overs at 9/189.
Daniel Higgs was the only Kerang Fairley Town batsman to reach double figures as the hosts fell for 50 in the 17th. Daniel Coates stood out with the ball, taking four wickets.
