WANDELLA’S Murray brothers prevented Nondies from completing the perfect season as the Bombers defend their Northern District Cricket Association B Grade premiership.
Going into the match having lost to the undefeated minor premiers throughout the season, Brad and Luke Murray led the Bombers to a 17-run win in front of a large crowd at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve’s second oval.
Electing to bat first, the Bombers were in early trouble at 2/17 before Luke Murray (49) and Sam Radcliffe (42) put together a 62-run third-wicket stand that helped Wandella score 6/128 off 40 overs.
The pair were the only two batsmen to reach double figures, with Nondies’ bowlers – led by a two-wicket haul from Brandon Keely – ensuring the hosts would be chasing down a total it could achieve.
This looked to be a possibility early in Nondies’ reply, with Blake Cooke dominating with the bat.
The opening batman scored 27 out of Nondies’ first 39 runs, before becoming Brad Murray’s first of four scalps for the innings.
The spinner then claimed Oscar McGraw without any addition to the score.
Josh Treacy – who remained 44 not out – and Aiden Thompson (24) added 51 runs for the fifth wicket, but the Bombers claimed the final five wickets for 21 runs to dismiss the minor premiers for 111 in the 35th over.
The result ended Nondies’ run of 11 wins and 15 matches without defeat, with the Cohuna Recreation Reserve tenant’s last loss prior to the weekend occurring in the 2016-17 decider.
