BARHAM-KOONDROOK went agonisingly close to securing their first victory in the Swan Hill & District Cricket Association on the weekend, falling just short of Nyah District’s total by four runs.
The SHDCA’s newest side were on track for victory inside the last five overs of their innings, thanks to Eion Janse Van Rensburg (14), Jade Stewart (14) and Jake Vallence (20), who combined to drag Barham-Koondrook back into the contest after finding themselves at 6-46 just after drinks.
Chasing 107 for victory, the home side recovered to 7-86 off the bat of Van Rensburg and Stewart, before losing their last three wickets for 17 runs.
The final wicket came in the final over, with Vallence run out trying to retain the strike on the second last ball of the match, with the home side still needing five runs for victory.
Batting first, the Demons were bowled out for just 107 from 34 overs, with veteran Justin Toomey (39) and opener Charlie Boulton (16) the only batsmen to reach double figures for Nyah District.
Jade Stewart (4-16) and Chameera Akurugoda (3-15) were the pick of the Barham-Koondrook bowlers, along with Garry Lolicato, who bowled five maidens in his six-over spell to help keep the Demons to an achievable target.
Alex Wilson struck in his first over, removing Akurugoda in his first game for Nyah District, with wickets continuing to fall at regular intervals before Barham-Koondrook’s comeback.
Charlie Boulton led the way for Nyah District with the ball, taking 3-36 from his eight overs, while Ben Shadbolt and Max Thompson both took two wickets each.
Wandella made light work of Swan Hill in their opening match of the season, with the Bombers claiming a 10-wicket win over the Swans.
Batting first, Swan Hills’ innings never got started, with the home side managing just 76 before being dismissed by last year’s grand finalists.
Wandella youngster Ethan McKnight was the chief destroyer, taking four wickets for Wandella, with Samuel Copland (2-9), Daniel Higgs (2-12) and Bohden McKnight (1-14) the other wicket takers.
Jacob Hatcher top scored for Swan Hill with 18 and recruit Ammar Khalid (15) the only players to offer any sort of resistance.
In reply, Daniel Higgs (36 not out) and Patrick Oliver (31 not out) helped Wandella cruise to victory without losing a wicket, as the Bombers reached their required target after just 11 overs.
The match also heralded the return of Peter Moore for the Bombers, with the star all-rounder playing his first match wearing red and black in the SHDCA.
Murrabit also playing their first match in the new competition at the weekend.
The Blues had a much harder time of it, with Woorinen’s Darren Rushton scoring a maiden century on the way to a mammoth first innings score of 7-251.
Jason Mangiameli provided good support with an unbeaten 67, with the pair putting on 108 for the fourth wicket. Murrabit veteran Nathan Henry was the pick of the bowlers with 2-34, including the prized wicket of Rushton.
Murrabit’s reply got away to a shaky start, losing both openers, Tim Millard and Simon Ettershank, for ducks, with Nathan Henry (12) following soon after, reducing the home side to 3-26.
Toby Gray tried his best to bring the Blues back into contest, scoring 46 at better than run a ball, but it was to no avail, with Murrabit bowled out in the second last over with 144 on the board.
Rushton capped off a match-winning afternoon with three wickets for the Tigers, while Paul Johnson cleaned up the tail, taking three wickets for nine runs.
The final match of the opening round saw reigning premiers St Mary’s-Tyntynder start their premiership defence in fine fashion, with an eight-wicket win over Ultima-TUF.
Charlie King was the pick of the bowlers for St Mary’s-Tyntynder, claiming 3-24 as the Roodogs could muster just 9-101 from their allotted 40 overs, before Jonty Chaproniere (53) and Connor Power (9 not out) made light work of the run chase, passing the home side in the 16th over, after the loss of only two wicket.
SHDCA A GRADE RESULTS – ROUND 1
NYAH DISTRICT – 10-107 off 34 overs (Justin Toomey 39, Jade Stewart 4-16, Chameera Akurugoda 3-15) defeated BARHAM-KOONDROOK – 10-103 off 39.5 overs (Jake Vallence 20, Charlie Boulton 3-36, Ben Shadbolt 2-15, Max Thompson 2-16)
SWAN HILL – 10-76 off 27 overs (Ethan McKnight 4-16, Samuel Copland 2-9, Daniel Higgs 2-12) lost to WANDELLA – 0-77 off 11 overs (Daniel Higgs 36*, Patrick Oliver 31*)
WOORINEN – 7-251 off 40 overs (Darren Rushton 118, Jason Mangiameli 67*, Guri Singh 24, Nathan Henry 2-34) defeated MURRABIT – 10-144 off 39 overs (Toby Gray 46, Archer McKnight 22*, Paul Johnson 3-14, Darren Rushton 3-32, Smit Patel 2-21, Guri Singh 2-29)
ULTIMA-TUF – 9-101 off 40 overs (Cassidy Sibley 25, Josh Waldron 22, Charlie King 3-24) lost to ST MARY’S-TYNTYNDER – 2-103 off 16 overs (Jonty Chaproniere 53, Connor Power 39*)
