MILDURA West face a virtual elimination final when they take on fourth-placed Coomealla-Wentworth in today’s round of Sunraysia cricket.
West were beaten in a thriller by Mildura Settlers last weekend to slip 15 points behind Coomealla-Wentworth on the ladder, and must win to remain in the finals race with just two games remaining after today.
Both teams have grown as the season has progressed and hit today’s one-day fixture in excellent form.
Under coach Davison Mbindi, West’s young attack have been working to set game plans and fields that are keeping opposition batting line-ups in check.
Even the hard-hitting Settlers top order were subdued last round, so Coomealla-Wentworth will need to stay busy at the crease or risk being kept at under three an over, which may not be enough.
Bevan Wade looms as the key with his aggression in the middle order, and skipper Justin Freeman may be tempted to get him in early.
Coomealla-Wentworth’s strength has also been with the ball this season, led brilliantly by Freeman, and a score of 150 may get the job done today. On form, it is a toss of the coin clash, but Mildura
West has everything to play for on its home deck at John Hall Oval and could just sneak home, giving themselves a further throw at the stumps to make the finals.
Irymple v Mildura Settlers
TWO of the league’s heavyweights in Irymple and Mildura Settlers meet at Henshilwood Oval in a game that will have little bearing on the finals make-up, but psychologically will mean plenty.
Mildura Settlers captain Braidyn Turner admits his team have not played their best cricket this season, as they have struggled to get a consistent team on the park each week, but no team understands the business end of the season better than Mildura Settlers.
That is why this game looms as a cracker, as the experienced Settlers batting line up will want to give the second-placed Swallows a timely reminder of their firepower a few weeks out from the finals.
The two teams are likely to meet in the semi-finals, adding extra spice to today’s game.
Irymple’s bowling attack is arguably the best in the competition, with a quality mix of pace, swing and spin. They have six bowlers who all have great control, and the team has conceded the least amount of runs for the season by quite a margin.
On the flip side, only bottom side Merbein South has conceded more with the ball than Mildura Settlers. But if big quick Seamus Keogh returns from district cricket duties in Melbourne, that could all change.
Irymple to sneak home. Just.
Nichols Point v Workers Gol Gol
WORKERS Gol Gol can’t afford a slip up heading into the finals as they look to secure top spot.
And while they will be heavily favoured in today’s clash at Nichols Point, an upset result is not out of the question.
The Pointers have enough firepower with both bat and ball to cause some issues for Workers, but the major issue for Pointers is too much is left to too few, and if those big guns don’t fire, it is curtains.
Luke Thomson-Mathews and Brad Thomas have both had good moments with the bat this season, and coach Shaun Mathews found some form last weekend, but for Nichols Point to compete with the top side today, more is needed from the middle order.
Workers Gol Gol, on the other hand, have been getting consistent contributions from their entire batting list, and will be eyeing another big total on the small Nichols Point oval today.
They should win comfortably, but while finals are now out of the equation, Shaun Mathews would love for his team to claim a big scalp before season’s end.
Merbein South v Mildura East
MERBEIN South remains winless after 18 rounds, but will sense an opportunity today.
The Saints host Mildura East, who sit just one place above them on the table, with three wins for the summer.
Merbein South has not thrown the towel in at any stage this season, and fought hard against top side Workers Gol Gol for the full 80 overs last round.
But the major issue for the Saints has been taking wickets, particularly early, allowing teams to cut loose in the later overs. The Saints have taken just 56 wickets for the season, well below the next worst, which is Mildura East with 78.
Mildura East has struggled with the bat, and has made only 34 more runs than Merbein South across the whole season, so if the Saints can build dot ball pressure, they could just get over the line for a morale-boosting victory.
East deserve to be favourites, but this could go down to the wire.
