FOUR of the Northern District Cricket Association’s A Grade sides will go into the mid-season break knowing they have secured places in March’s finals series.
Barham/Koondrook’s loss to competition leaders, Leitchville/Gunbower – as well as Nondies’ win against last season’s grand finalists, Wandella, has opened up a gap the border side cannot close during the final eight rounds of the season.
Playing at home, Matt Thomas (67 not out) batted out the innings as Barham/Koondrook posted 8/134 after being sent in first to bat.
Alex Keath and Brad Windridge both claimed two wickets each for the defending premiers, who had the hosts reeling at 2/7 early in the first innings of the match.
Tyler Jones (43) was pivotal in Leitchville/Gunbower’s response, before Garry Lolicato and Paul Molin – who both took two wickets each – reclaimed the ascendancy for the hosts.
Leitchville/Gunbower slumped to be 8/121 before Jason Keath (47) helped secure the win and a team total of 150.
The loss leaves the border side winless after 10 rounds, four victories and 23 points behind Nondies, which were too strong for Wandella at home.
Electing to bat first, Nondies did its best to contain the Bombers’ bowlers – led by a three-wicket haul from Ethan McKnight – to reach 9/138 off its 45 overs.
The score proved to be more than enough for the hosts to defend, with Brodey Farley (25) and Greg Dickson (21) two of five Bombers batsmen to reach double figures as the visitors fell for 114 in the 42nd over.
United’s late charge
COHUNA United’s Northern District Cricket Association B Grade side will go into the mid-season break aiming to climb into the top four following the team’s second win of the season.
United is now 11 points off fourth-placed side, Leitchville/Gunbower following a 122-run win against the competition’s southernmost team at the weekend.
Darren Hancock (106 retired) and Michael Rowe (70) were pivotal in United’s win, with the pair’s 105-run fourth-wicket stand proving to be the difference between both sides.
United scored 9/216 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Hancock and Rowe two of three batsmen to reach double figures.
Craig Taylor took three wickets for the visitors, who struggled in reply with the bat.
Wade Keath (22 not out) and Michael Moritz (20) stood out for Leitchville/Gunbower, as a Andrew Brown-led bowling attack took control of the match.
Brown claimed three wickets to help dismiss Leitchville/Gunbower for 94 in the 38th over.
The result also opened up a gap between third and fourth spot on the ladder, thanks to Wandella’s 90-run win against Wandella Warriors.
Sent in to bat, a 127-run third-wicket stand between Nathan Henry (86) and Luke Murray (46) helped the Bombers reach 6/210 off its 40 overs.
Craig McGrath (65) and Declan Hogg (24) were the only two Warriors batsmen to surpass 10 runs as Wandella’s second B Grade side posted 8/120 off its 40 overs.
The win leaves the Bombers locked with Barham/Koondrook in a battle for a second semi-final spot, with the border side defeating Kerang Fairley Town.
Despite the best efforts of Stephen Ralston (53 runs and two wickets) and Mark Higgs (three wickets), a four-wicket haul to Cody Storm led to Kerang Fairley Town’s dismissal at 108, before the border side scored 7/232 in reply.
