CRICKET returned after the Christmas break for the Northern Districts Cricket Association and standard service resumed, with Murrabit continuing their undefeated season.
In the second round of the Swan Hill Pools and Spas T20 competition, the Blues easily accounted for Koondrook by 26 runs.
Winning the toss and batting first, the Blues lost skipper Tim Millard second ball before Blake Watts quickly followed – both falling to the bowling of Lachlan Laursen (2/25).
Nathan Henry (32) played a crucial anchoring innings, which allowed the likes of Michael Hartley (23) and Neil Teasdale (44 not out) to play more expansive games around him.
When Henry departed at 5/108, the game was on a knife’s edge, but the ever-reliable Teasdale and Brent McKnight (21 not out) guided the Blues to a good total of 5/156.
It was a disaster in reply for Koondrook as Watts (2/14), and Henry (3/8 off three overs) ran rampant to leave their opponents at 5/24.
By this stage, it was already game over – however, Koondrook was saved from embarrassment by Mason Laursen (46 not out) and Van Rensburg (51 not out), who put on an unbeaten 106-run partnership.
The game was long gone though, and the loss left Koondrook 1-1 in the T20 competition.
Kerang vs Barham
BARHAM scored a crucial win over Kerang to level out their record in the T20 competition to 1-1.
In front of their past players’ day function, Kerang at least put on a much better show than earlier in the season against Barham when they were rolled for 55.
Sending Barham into bat first proved the wrong decision as Leigh Sobotnicki took the Kerang bowlers to the cleaners in a blistering innings of 94 off 53 balls.
He had ample support from his skipper Chameera Akurugoda (47), which enabled them to post a mammoth total of 4/198.
Kerang tried eight bowlers throughout the 20 overs, but nothing seemed to work against the supreme power hitting of the Barham top order.
Kerang gave a much better account of themselves in their batting innings, with Declan Hogg (61) and Indiana Boswell (46) putting on a 115-run opening stand.
Unfortunately for Kerang, it wasn’t enough, with the run rate far too high to keep pace at.
Akurugoda (0/12) was miserly with the ball.
The loss left Kerang 0-2 in the T20 competition.
Wandella (SHDCA)
IN their first home match for the season, Wandella failed to send their fans home happy as they slumped to a second consecutive big loss to Nyah District in as many weeks.
The Bombers were no match for the talent of Joel Walsh, who smacked 68 off 57 balls and took an incredible 6/54 from 22 overs.
A total of 128 was never going to be enough for the Bombers as the Demons chased it down with ease.
Ethan McKnight was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 2/26 from his seven overs.
Earlier, Rohan Oliver gave his side something to bowl at in a composed 32 not out with wickets falling around him.
Skipper Gregory Dickson returned to the side and made a respectable 24.
The lack of a big score cost the Bombers, with numerous batters getting in and not going on with it.
While it’s been a bad restart to the season since Christmas, the Bombers do have the Kookaburra Cup final to look forward to on Australia Day.
