COHUNA United’s dominance of Northern District Cricket Association A Grade defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower continued at the weekend.
In what was the first completed round of matches this year, United’s two-wicket win against the competition’s southernmost side helped the Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenants return to the top of the ladder with four rounds remaining.
Logan Spittal (four wickets) and an all round batting display led United to its third win of the season against the weekend’s hosts.
Sent in to bat first, Leitchville/Gunbower was reeling at 6/36 before Jack Lunghusen (77) and Brad Windridge (21) combined for an 81-run seventh-wicket stand that helped the hosts score 142 in 43 overs.
Despite the best efforts of James Keith and Todd Gelletly, who took three wickets each, four United batsmen surpassed 10 runs, led by Peter Taylor (28), to set up the win and a team total of 9/153 off 45 overs.
In the weekend’s other top grade match, Nondies remains in the hunt for the chance to play the second semi-final on March 3 with a seven-wicket win against Barham/Koondrook.
Sent in to bat first, the border side fell for 118 in the 43rd over, thanks to a four-wicket haul to Rhys Bradley.
Harrison Keely (39), Sam O’Shea (32) and Bradley (31) then guided Nondies’ middle order to the win, with the hosts scoring 6/188 off its 45 overs.
Finals berths closer
LAST season’s Northern District Cricket Association B Grade grand finalists have moved one match closer to meeting in March 3’s second semi-final.
Competition leaders, Nondies added an eighth win to their season with a seven-wicket win against fellow finals-bound side; Leitchville/Gunbower.
Sent in to bat first, Austin Windridge (29) and Matt Hawken (28) were two of four Leitchville/Gunbower batsmen to reach double figures as the hosts scored 9/138 off its 40 overs.
Wade Mathers’ five-wicket haul ensured Nondies would chase down a more than manageable total, which proved to be the case thanks to the efforts of Blake Cooke (54) and Aiden Thompson (44).
Nondies scored 8/164 in reply, with Francis O’Brien and Billy Hawken taking three wickets each for the hosts.
Meanwhile, defending premiers, Wandella dominated with the bat and ball in a 64-run win against Barham/Koondroook.
Sent in to bat first, Neil Lehmann (47), Luke Murray (41 not out) and Nathan Henry (32) helped the Bombers score 7/141 off their 40 overs.
Quinlan O’Neill took four wickets for the hosts, before Brad Murray (three wickets) and his fellow visiting bowlers took control of the match, dismissing the border side for 77 in the 27th over.
In the final match of the round, Darryll Neil’s six-wicket haul helped Wandella Warriors produce a 118-run win against Cohuna United.
Sent in to bat first, William Hogg and Blake Shay – who both finished their innings 28 not out – helped the Warriors post 8/166 off their 40 overs, before Neil’s eight-over spell led to United falling for 48 in the 17th over.
