IN the Swan Hill District Cricket Association, Gannawarra-based side Wandella is flying after recording their third straight victory over the lowly Swan Hill.
After posting 215, opening bowler Ryan Barnes had a day out, taking 8/27.
Incredibly Barnes went wicketless in his opening spell but returned later in the innings with one of the great spells in club history, taking the final eight wickets of the match for only three runs as the Bombers rolled the Swans for 152.
Whereas the Swans only bat to No.5, Barnes and his partners will face a much sterner test against the deepest batting line-up in the competition this weekend.
The Bombers are now entrenched in the top four but will face the ultimate test this weekend in competition front runners St Mary’s Tyntynder.
The Saints beat the Bombers by 109 runs in the Kookaburra Cup final on Australia Day, but since that match, the Bombers have improved out of sight and are currently the clear third seed after the Saints and Nyah District.
That outlook could improve even further this weekend if they are able to beat the red-hot Saints or at least take it up to them.
The Bombers now have support for gun batsman and captain Gregory Dickson with young star Bohden McKnight taking a massive step forward in his development, scoring 44 and 37, respectively, across the past two weeks.
They have also been able to find lower order runs – a problem that plagued them before Christmas.
