BARHAM-KOONDROOK v NYAH DISTRICT
LADDER leaders Nyah District were made to earn the six points against a gallant Barham-Koondrook, with the Demons securing a one-wicket victory in one of the games of the season on the weekend.
Chasing the Raiders first innings total of 171, the reigning premiers passed the home side with just two balls remaining, with captain Ben Shadbolt (6 not out) and Cooper Andrews surviving quality death bowling from Garry Lolicato (4-67) and Chameera Akurugoda (2-45).
In a match with many individual highlights, it was Lolicato who stood out in one of the most impressive all-round displays in many seasons, with the Barham-Koondrook skipper bowling unchanged from one end for the entire innings, having already contributed 41 in the middle order with the bat.
The only Raiders batter to pass Lolicato’s performance was brother Warren, who top scored for the home side with 47, while some late innings hitting from Lachlan Laursen (34), Lance Davidson (13) and Hayden Solar (17) helped Barham-Koondrook post a challenging target of 8-171.
Nyah District’s Nash Richman produced his best performance for his new club, taking 4-36 from 10 overs, including the prized wickets of both Lolicato brothers, with Joel Walsh (3-49) the other wicket taker for the Demons.
Richman (32) and Walsh (27) the followed up their good work with the ball by producing solid contributions with the bat, with Richman anchoring the innings and almost guiding his team to victory before edging one through to keeper Kynan Laursen.
The hero with the bat for Nyah District was Charlie Boulton, with the young opener scoring 75 from 95 deliveries at the top of the order, including six boundaries and two sixes.
The Demons will face off against Woorinen in the Kookaburra Cup grand final this Saturday, while Barham-Koondrook will play Ultima-TUF in a must-win game for both clubs following the Australia Day long weekend bye.
ST. MARY’S-TYNTYNDER v WANDELLA
St. Mary’s-Tyntynder produced back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a 64-run defeat of Wandella at the Ken Harrison Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Having won just one match prior to the Christmas break, the Bulldogs third win of the season has breathed life back into their finals hopes, with last year’s grand finalists now sitting just one and a half games behind the fourth placed Bombers.
Batting first after being sent in, St. Mary’s-Tyntynder were bowled out for 123 from just 38 overs, with Daniel Higgs (3-31), Laing Waddingham (2-15) and Peter Moore (2-19) making life difficult for the home side, with Charlie King (46), Bailey Codling (24) and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown (11 not out) the only Bulldogs to reach double figures.
While 123 would be considered below par usually, it proved to be more than enough for Wandella, whose batting woes continued, having been dismissed for just 59 off 31 overs.
The Bombers scorecard would have looked a whole lot worse if not for Peter Moore’s 30 runs from 63 balls, with the all-rounder the only batter for the visitors reaching double figures.
Off spinner Dom Violi was the key wicket taker for St. Mary’s-Tyntynder, claiming 5-9 from five overs, with Robin Sebastian (3-28) and Holmes-Brown (2-18) claiming the remaining wickets.
