NICHOLS Point hits the mid-season break on top of the Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder despite dropping their first match on Saturday.
Reigning premiers Gol Gol proved too strong for the league’s big improvers, chasing down the 164-run target with seven overs in hand in the one-day clash.
Gun all-rounder Shac Thomas led the run chase with 74 from 84 deliveries, while prolific run scorer Wade Hancock continued his strong form with 40.
Emerging Nichols Point bowler Rylan Newey finished with two of the three wickets.
Gol Gol set up the win with a strong bowling performance, led by Sheldon Calarco, who claimed 4/25 as Nichols Point were rolled for just 163.
Point opener Nick Blacker top scored with 42 while Dale Chappell’s 33 down the order helped build out the total.
A blistering unbeaten century from Coomealla Wentworth opener Bevan Wade ensured his side went into the Christmas break just one win outside the top four.
Wade smashed 110 not out from 107 deliveries, including nine boundaries and two sixes, as the Blues defeated Mildura Settlers by seven wickets. He shared an 87-run stand with twin brother Colby (29) as tCoomealla Wentworth reached the target of 160 with eight overs in hand.
Earlier, Setts’ Josh Coates, in his first match of the season, scored 67 as his side finished at 9/159 after 40 overs. Joel Perry provided support with 25.
English import Tauseef Kataria was the Blues’ best with the ball, taking 4/26, while Liam Freeman and Andrew Porker grabbed two each.
Irymple solidified their place in the top four with a four-wicket victory over Mildura West.
An unbroken 52-run partnership from vice-captain Billy Phelan (44 not out) and Bailey Anderson (15 not out) helped the Swallows pass their target of 119 after finding themselves at 6/68.
Aaron McClelland led West’s bowling with 3/23.
Following eight wickets in the seconds last round, Tyler Garraway impressed for the Swallows with 4/25 as they dismissed West for 118.
Kian Burns made another solid start for West, top-scoring with 35.
Mildura East co-captain Brad Thomas continued his strong batting form with a half-century to lead his side to an 81-run win over Merbein at Kenny Park.
Thomas top scored with 62 following his century the previous week, sharing another big partnership with Tom Vadlja (56 not out) as they finished at 3/170.
Englishman Josh Andrews also contributed with 36 and countryman Ben Green led Merbein’s bowling with 2/41.
In the chase the Magpies were all out for 89, skipper Mark East (23) and Hamim Miah (21) top-scoring.
Vadlja (3/15) and co-captain Andrew Ross (3/29) had the best bowling figures while Nick Dorman and Josh Bowyer took two each.
SCA action returns on Saturday, January 6 with one-day games, before two rounds of one-day games on the following Saturday and Sunday.
