ST MARY’S-TYNTYNDER v SWAN HILL
SWAN Hill almost produced the impossible on Saturday afternoon, the Swans falling just three wickets short of an unlikely win over reigning premiers St Mary’s-Tyntynder.
The Swans scored just 92 runs from their 40 overs for the loss of nine wickets, with veteran Alan Hatcher coming out of retirement to top score with 36 and Ian Schodde scoring an unbeaten 21.
Although last season’s wooden spooners batted out their overs, most observers would have felt that 92 wouldn’t be enough, until Swan Hill recruit Sam Collidge ripped through the Bulldogs’ top and middle order, producing a devastating six-over spell that removed Jake Foster, Connor Brown, Charlie King, Bailey Codling and Dominic Violi.
Jonty Chaproniere helped get the reigning premiers off to a flyer but was dismissed for 25 by stand-in Swan Hill skipper Jacob Hatcher in the middle of Collidge’s spell.
When Riley Daniels (12) fell to spinner Schodde, St Mary’s-Tyntynder had lost their seventh wicket, and with the Bulldogs still 34 runs from victory, an upset looked to be on the cards.
That was until captain Nathaniel Holmes-Brown (24 not out) and Robin Sebastian (9 not out) steadied the ship, with the opening bowlers guiding their team home seven wickets down in the 17th over.
