GOL Gol are in the driver’s seat for the Sunraysia Cricket Association minor premiership with one round remaining before finals, but the entire make-up of the top four is still up in the air.
The NSW side defeated Irymple by six wickets in their top of the table clash to gain some separation on the rest of the pack.
Meanwhile third-placed Mildura East held on for a tight three-run win over Coomealla Wentworth, Josh Driscoll’s break-out performance saved fourth-placed Mildura West from trouble, while Nichols Point are still hunting a place in the finals.
Despite the absence of star all-rounder Shacaya Thomas, gun batter Wade Hancock led Gol Gol to victory with an unbeaten 63 to help his side over the line with an over to spare.
Alongside him Sheldon Calarco (38), Jeremy Barnes (35) and captain-coach Adam Thomson (32) all made solid contributions as they chased down their target of 193.
Bailey Anderson took two wickets for the Swallows.
Earlier, Irymple opener Riley Payne had his best innings of the season with 67, sharing a 103-run opening stand with captain Mark Thomson (51).
After them Jarrad Armsden was the next highest scorer with 26 as the Swallows were restricted to 192, Matt Cameron and Riley Moore grabbing two wickets each for the eventual winners.
At George Gordon Oval, Coomealla Wentworth needed 14 runs from their final two overs for a win over Mildura East that would put them back in finals contention, but the visitors held on to win by three runs.
A superb bowling performance from East vice-captain Nick Dorman, who took 6/33 from 16 overs, helped lead his side to the win.
Colby Wade and captain Justin Freeman scored for the Blues with 31 and 29 respectively in the run chase.
Earlier Scottish international Liam Naylor recorded his fifth half-century of the season with 51 as East made 8/142, Jay Turlan the best of the Blues bowlers with 3/11.
At Mildura Senior College, Mildura West young gun Driscoll put in a brilliant all-round performance to earn his side a 50-run win over Mildura Settlers, recovering from a horror start at 6/12.
Batting at No.7 his 45 anchored the back of the innings, which included pivotal partnerships with Joe Fleri (16) and dad Shane (20) as West were all out for 108.
Mukesh Sharma was brilliant with the ball for the home side, taking six for 15 including four of those first six wickets.
Despite a typically fast start from Jason Morrison (28), Setts weren’t able to get their innings going, eventually losing their last six wickets for 13 runs to be all out for 58.
Driscoll led the charge with a first division best 6/38, giving him 14 wickets in the past three matches, while import Jasper Presswell claimed 3/18 to take his season tally to 35.
Nichols Point, meanwhile, stayed on Mildura West’s hammer with an eight-wicket win over Merbein on their home deck.
A well-crafted 97 from captain-coach Nick Blacker led the run chase, however he was cruelly denied his second century of the season when he was run out backing up, a caught and bowled attempt from Angus Smith ricocheted the ball into the stumps at the bowls end.
Set 152 to win, Blacker and Brad Rosenzweig (67) combined for a 112-run opening stand, while Riley Jobson added an unbeaten 29.
Ethan Walder impressed with two of the four wickets for the Magpies as the Pointers eventually finished on 4/210.
Earlier, Mark East (41) and Campbell Dunne (28) top scored for the Pies in their solid 8/151, Point veteran Shaun Mathews taking 3/36 with the ball.
