COHUNA United’s form reversal from this time 12 months ago is complete, with last season’s fifth-placed side to play in this weekend’s Northern District Cricket Association A Grade second semi-final against defending premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower.
United won its seventh match of the season at the weekend, holding on for a 17-run win against Barham/Koondrook.
Sent in to bat first, United was in trouble during multiple stages of its innings, thanks to a four-wicket haul to Mick O’Toole.
However, a 102-run ninth-wicket stand between Logan Spittal (72) and Austin Robinson (42 not out) helped United finish its innings at 9/198.
Spittal and Matt Robinson then dominated with the ball, with the pair claiming three wickets each to help dismiss the border side for 181 with 12 balls to spare.
Barham/Koondrook had it chances to secure the team’s first victory of the season, thanks to the efforts of Warren Lolicato (45), Paul Molin (41) and Garry Lolicato (34), but the side lost its last seven wickets for 30 runs.
The result meant United finished two points ahead of third-placed side, Nondies – who claimed nine points despite having the bye at the weekend – but five points adrift of minor premiers, Leitchville/Gunbower.
The defending premiers secured a fourth-consecutive top spot finish thanks to a nine-wicket win against Wandella.
Kurt Brereton (126) and Tyler Jones (125) set up the defending premiers’ fourth consecutive victory against the Bombers, with the pair helping the visitors post the highest score of the season.
The competition’s southernmost side sent the Bombers in to bat first, with the hosts scoring 9/191 off 45 overs.
Isaac Hogan (60) led the way at the top of the order, with Daniel Higgs providing a valuable innings, but it was James Keath’s three wickets that ensured the visitors could chase down a competitive total.
Mick Bott claimed the early wicket of Oliver O’Shea to give the hosts a chance, but it brought Brereton to the crease, with the veteran uniting with Jones for a double-century second-wicket stand.
Jack Lunghusen (41) also scored runs once the result was secured, with Leitchville/Gunbower finishing its 45 overs at 4/310.
The result means Wandella will travel to the Cohuna Recreation Reserve to take on Nondies in this weekend’s first semi-final, with the hosts to go into to the match with confidence after defeating the Bombers when the sides last met earlier this month.
Top two tie
NONDIES and Barham/Koondrook will meet for the second time in eight days this weekend after the Northern District Cricket Association’s top two B Grade sides produced a tie on Saturday.
Going into the match looking to remain undefeated, Bailey Laursen’s sixth wicket of the innings prevented Nondies from securing an 11th win of the season, with the side finishing the home and away season with 10 wins and one tie from its 15 matches.
Needing a win to play in the second semi-final, Barham/Koondrook posted 9/138 from its 40 overs, with Nathan O’Toole (23), Tim Coote (22) and Corey Collins (20) the only batsmen to surpass 20 runs.Brandon Keely claimed four wickets for the hosts, who were cruising in their reply before Laursen was given the ball.
Nondies were 19 runs away from victory when Laursen dismissed Aiden Thompson (26), with the minor premiers losing their last seven wickets for 18 runs.
Nick Farr-Jones (43 not out) was Nondies’ top batsmen, and he could only watch on as his teammates lost their wickets.
The result prevented defending premiers, Wandella from returning to the top two, with the side’s two-wicket win against Cohuna United not enough to close the gap between the Bombers and the border side.
Asked to bowl first, the Bombers dismissed United for 105, with the hosts losing their last six wickets for four runs.
Dale Hancock (39) and Aaron Wilson (32) had the hosts well positioned to post a competitive total, but four wickets to Nathan Henry changed the complexity of the match.
Despite a three-wicket haul to Hancock, the Bombers – who were in trouble at 8/87, prevailed thanks to a 68-run ninth-wicket stand between Brad Murray (91) and Cody Shipp.
The result means the Bombers will host Leitchville/Gunbower in this weekend’s first semi-final.
The competition’s southernmost side needed results to go its way if the team was to move up the ladder, but did what it needed to do in a 28-run win against Kerang Fairley Town.
Sent in to bat first, Austin Windridge (30) led the way with the bat as Leitchville/Gunbower fell for 135 in the 36th over.
Windridge was one of five batsmen to reach double figures, as William Turvey claimed three wickets for the hosts.
Stephen Ralston (38) and Denis Bacon (24) put together a 50-run opening wicket stand, but four wickets to Billy Hawken helped Leitchville/Gunbower dismiss Kerang Fairley Town for 106 in the 29th over.
