GOL Gol have jumped to the top of the table after defeating ladder leaders Irymple, courtesy of a neat bowling performance and a Wade Hancock half-century.
Irymple elected to bat in the top-two clash, but were held to 7/138 from their 40 overs with the Gol Gol keeping the pressure on despite not bowling the home side out.
Thanura Rajapakse (one wicket) was the most economical of the bowlers, conceding just 18 runs from his full allotment of eight overs, while Sheldon Calarco (one wicket) was next-best after going for just 20 from his 7.2.
Jayden Brooks (3/31) and Shacaya Thomas (2/30) were the major wicket takers.
Scott Steel top-scored for the home side, hitting 71 at a run-rate of 86 with the innings featuring five boundaries, including one six.
But Rajapakse claimed the wicket of the dangerous No.3, Greg Beresi taking the catch, with the score at 5/114.
The home side could only add 23 runs after Steel’s dismissal, as the line-up struggled to get the visitor’s bowling attack away.
Riley Payne added 20 runs off 69 balls at the top of the order while Millar Payne chipped in with 15 (off 20).
In response, Gol Gol cruised to the target in the 34th over with the loss of only two wickets along the way.
Wade Hancock (63*) combined with Calarco (10*) to secure victory, Hancock striking nine boundaries – including one six – in his innings.
Calarco struck one boundary in his knock while, earlier, opener Thomas got things off to a positive start with a 50 off 66 balls including hitting one six and five fours.
Opening bowler Chase Jones rattled the stumps to claim the first scalp with the score at 24, giving Irymple hope but the score marched past 100 before the next wicket fell.
Caleb Garraway claimed the wicket of the dangerous Thomas, who has two centuries already this season, with Steel taking the catch.
With Irymple needing to restrict the run-rate, Bailey Anderson was the most economical of the the bowlers – conceding just 1.75 runs from his four overs.
Tyler Garraway and Stone also went for the less than the required run-rate, at 2.42 and 2.82 runs per over respectively.
Gol Gol’s eight-wicket win sees them jump to the top while Irymple slips to third.
Meanwhile, Nichols Point jumped to second on the ladder after a similarly comfortable chase away at Merbein.
Shannon Bowen (2/6), Shaun Mathews (2/7) and Anthony Morris (2/21) were the multiple wicket takers as Merbein were bowled out with nearly four overs to go.
The home side’s Dillon Furze was undefeated on 34 — the No.5 hitting four boundaries — while Angus Smith chipped in with 14.
Chasing 102, Nichols Point loss three quick wickets but were guided home by Riley Jobson (45*) and Bowen (37*).
It is the second week in a row rising star Jobson has top-scored for his side, with the teenager hitting 61 last week against Mildura Settlers.
Tony Trinick (eight overs) and Ethan Walder (three) both impressively kept the scoring below the required-run-rate in their spells.
Elsewhere, an undefeated century from Liam Naylor saw Mildura East got the job done in the mid-table clash against Coomealla Wentworth.
East elected to bat and delivered, posting 6/203 as openers Naylor (113*) and Joshua Andrews (29) got off to a flying start.
Naylor’s innings featured 11 boundaries, including two sixes, at more than a run-a-ball while Andrews hit six fours.
Andrew Ross chipped in with 28 to help Naylor guide the side past 200.
Justin Freeman and Andrew Porker took two wickets apiece for the home side.
East slumped to 5-91 just before drinks – a run out claiming Bevan Wade (35) not helping – and lost two more wickets quickly after the break to be in trouble.
Jay Turlan (39) helped the tail wag but the side was all out for 156 in the 36th over, 48 runs short of victory.
Luke Hansen (3/19) was the main destroyer while Ross and Naylor each claimed two wickets.
In the round’s other game, Mildura West’s 136 was enough as Settlers suffered four ducks in the chase.
Chris Williams (44) and Joseph Smallman (36*) top-scored for the home side while Samuel Farmer took 4/25 for the visitors.
Jason Morrison (37), Farmer (25) and Beau Kiel (16) got starts in the the chase but Settlers fell 38 runs short, with Chris Williams (4/20) and opener Jasper Presswell (3/10) doing the damage.
