REIGNING Innes Medal winner Shacaya Thomas continued his blistering form of last season with an unbeaten century for Gol Gol to complete a strange round of the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA).
Only two games were completed in First Division following significant rain Thursday and Friday, with Gol Gol defeating Merbein South by nine wickets, while Mildura West won over Coomealla Wentworth by three wickets.
Mildura East’s chase of Irymple’s 151 at Henshilwood Oval was called a washout, while at Mildura Senior College it was an umpires’ call not to play the second day between Mildura Settlers and Nichols Point.
This was reportedly because the outfield had a patch of wet grass off the square. But the SCA board called the decision “disappointing”.
The Red Cliffs Cricket Association (RCCA) abandoned all scheduled matches due to the rain.
The conditions added to the early-season frustration for all in cricketing circles after the opening five weeks of the SCA season having been called draws due to lockdown restrictions.
Finally getting the chance to take to the field, the Merbein South First Division side always had a tough ask against a strong Gol Gol outfit.
All the Saints’ teams had been pulled from competition the previous week after a positive COVID-19 case had been detected at the club. Gol Gol skipper Adam Thomson said Thomas, who hit 105 not out in the side’s score of 7/185, was reaping the rewards for working hard in the off-season.
“Shac just puts in more work than anyone, and he worked so hard in the lead-up to this season,” Thomson said.
“He was smashing them early – I think we might have been 0/47 off he first 10 overs – and got to 85 in quick time. He would have been going at better than a run a ball.
“He just hits the ball so hard, especially against the new rock, his timing was great.”
After being sent in, the Saints found themselves 4/17, with Mildura West recruits Luke Hickey (3/15) and Cal Humphreys (1/21) doing the damage with the new ball.
Big hitter Hamim Miah (33) and skipper Aaron Walder (21) set about trying to steady the ship, but two wickets each to Nick Jensen and Jayden Brooks helped dismiss the Saints for an even 100.
Gol Gol passed the required total with just wicket down but continued to bat, Wade Hancock making 47 and recruit Ben Hallam 18.
Robbie Roelofs was the pick of the Merbein South bowlers with 3/46 from his 14 overs, while First Division debutant Riley Williams took 2/4 from three overs.
“In your first game of the year you never know how it’s going to go but we were really happy with the performance,” Thomson said.
“Luke and Cal bowled really well up front and, being their first games for the club, you can’t know exactly how they’ll go but they were fantastic.”
At 1/27 chasing 106 for victory, West looked solid with Chris Williams (36) and coach Davison Mbindi (19), however once Williams departed lbw with the score at 61, three wickets fell for just another two runs to the bowling of Liam Freeman (3/32) and Jay Turlan (3/21).
Experienced players Greg Lewis, Brandon Dixon and skipper Shane Driscoll were however able to navigate West to the target.
