Workers Gol Gol v Merbein South
Alcheringa Oval
The clash between top and bottom shouldn’t throw up too many surprises.
Workers Gol Gol captain Adam Thomson will want to ensure no bad habits creep in as his team begins to sharpen up ahead of the finals. After last season’s grand final was called off when the pandemic restrictions first hit, Workers Gol Gol are desperate to get back there again, understanding they have the all-round team to get the job done this year.
Although they will be missing gun batsman Wade Hancock until at least the finals series with a finger injury, there is plenty of talent in the shed and Workers Gol Gol should knock up a big score with the bat against a Saints’ attack that lacks genuine first-grade depth.
The Saints remain winless after 17 rounds so it would be the upset of the season if they were to get up here.
Nichols Point v Irymple
Nichols Point Reserve
MATHEMATICALLY, at least, Nichols Point still have a throw at the stumps to make the finals.
But it would require a minor miracle of winning every game and for other results to go their way.
That starts today when they take on second-placed Irymple, who are still smarting after suffering an upset loss two weeks ago.
It’s been a disappointing season for the Pointers, who started with such promise with three straight wins, due largely to an explosive start by opener Leigh Thomson-Mathews.
Thomson-Mathews has had a few good knocks since his blistering start, and if Nichols Point are to win today, they may just need him to rediscover that power-hitting form.
A big positive for Nichols Point under coach Shaun Mathews, though, has been the exposure to first division cricket for a number of the club’s emerging youngsters, including Riley Jobson and Jack Norton.
But the form line suggests Irymple should get the job done. They are a tight-knit unit who each know their roles and look a genuine premiership threat under the leadership of Dan Coghlan and Mark Thomson.
For Nichols Point to have a chance, they may need to throw more caution to the wind with the bat against the best attack in the competition. A gallant loss will put a line through any remaining finals bid.
Coomealla-Wentworth v Mildura East
McLeod Oval
MILDURA East will look to put a dent in the finals prospects of their NSW rivals when they host the giant-killing Coomealla-Wentworth today.
And they are not without hope given the competitive form they showed against ladder leaders Workers Gol Gol two weeks ago, before last week’s round was called off due to the statewide COVID-19 lockdown.
Veteran Tom Vadlja continues to be a dominant figure with bat and ball for East, and if Jayden Hunt and Josh Berry can make some early inroads and knock over the likes of Bevan Wade and Luke Cullinan, this one could go down to the wire.
But Coomealla-Wentworth deserve to be favourites as they play a disciplined defensive game in the field and will look to choke up an East batting order that has struggled to score freely for most of the summer.
Justin Freeman has led from the front with bat, ball and in the field for his team in a career-best season and will ensure his side doesn’t lose grip of fourth spot.
