Irymple v Merbein South
Henshillwood Oval, 12.30pm Saturday
SECOND-placed Irymple should continue their winning form when they host Merbein South in round 6 of SCA cricket at Henshilwood Oval.
In the first of two games scheduled for Saturday, the Swallows look too strong for the Saints.
Irymple have set the bar high this season after the disappointment of bowing out of the finals race in the first weekend last season.
The Swallows are a class act with plenty of depth and their strong batting line-up should expose Merbein South’s lack of penetration with the ball.
Jordan Payne and Jarrod Armsden are both free-scoring players who are well suited to the Twenty20 format.
Payne has been below his lofty standards, but someone of his class and ability is never kept down for long.
The job of curbing the Swallows run scoring will again be left to veteran Saints paceman Shane Trinick, who celebrated his 300th game with the Saints’ first win last weekend.
Trinick is sure to give his all, as he does every week, but if his side is to cause an upset they will need a consolidated team effort.
Mildura East v Mildura Settlers
City Oval, 12.30pm
IF Mildura East are going to cause an upset against third-placed Mildura Settlers then this is the round to do it.
Setts are missing some big names from their regular line-up including Richie Wyld, Jason Morrison, Mark Cleary, Tarque Williamson and Luke Stanbrook.
No matter how much depth a club has it is difficult to replace five top-line players.
Wyld, Morrison and Cleary absence robs Setts of not only great batting depth, but variety with the ball.
Cleary and Morrison were match winners last round against Nichols Point, slowing the scoring late in Pointers innings to ensure victory.
Wyld is another key player in the shorter format, used as an opening bowler.His slow orthodox spin is difficult to get away.
But the absence of these players opens up opportunities for others to stake their claim for a regular senior spot.
Brak Zambelli comes back into the line up while Liam Goss gets his opportunity.
For East, Josh Berry will be hoping to rally his young side and will know this is a real opportunity to get a win against one of the flag contenders.
East have got their season off to a solid start with a couple of wins and another would keep them well in the mix for a top-four spot.
Mildura West v Nichols Point
Aero Oval, 12.30pm
NICHOLS Point’s perfect start came to an abrupt end last weekend, when the Pointers lost both Twenty20 matches.
It was a wake-up call for the emerging Pointers, who had won their opening three rounds, including getting the points over ladder leaders Workers Gol Gol.
This afternoon, in their first of two Twenty20 matches, they face another tough test against Mildura West.
West might not have the points beside their name, but they have certainly shown enough in the early rounds to indicate they have made ground on last season.
Aaron Feroz has been a great addition and will certainly come into his own when the long-format matches start next weekend.
Ben Hallam is another who continues to improve at the top of the batting order, while Chris Williams and Brandon Dixon are always very reliable.
But the Pointers will be out to prove that last weekend was just a blip.
Brad Thomas is relishing his new role as captain after making the switch from Mildura East during the off-season.
The classy upper-order batsman has been among the runs almost every time he has been at the crease this year and more of the same Saturday should ensure his side gets over the line.
Irymple v Mildura Settlers
Henshilwood Oval, 4pm
WITH so many stars missing, Mildura Settlers will need to dig deep if they are going to get the points against Irymple at Henshilwood Oval in their second Twenty20 match of the day.
Setts’ line-up has been decimated with a number of their stars missing because of Jason Morrison’s wedding.
Morrison himself is a big enough loss, although he is yet to hit his straps this season.
The big-hitting opening batsman ties the knot this weekend and joining him to help celebrate the occasions are some of Setts’ biggest names, including Richie Wyld and Mark Cleary.
Also going out of the side from last weekend’s winning line-up is coach Tarque Williamson and big-hitting Luke Stanbrook.
Brak Zambelli returns to provide some extra depth to their bowling, while Travis Shawcross and Liam Goss have been brought into the side.
But replacing the quality which has gone out will be a big ask for the reigning premiers.
Paddy Keogh, Braidyn Turner and Luke Coates are all premiership players and all three are among the elite in the competition, but they will need to perform if their side is to get across the line.
Irymple have dropped just one match to start off the year and another win here would give them a little breathing space.
Skipper Jordan Payne will know what an opportunity this match presents with so many of Setts’ better players missing and he’s sure to be reinforcing this fact to his side.
Merbein South v Workers Gol Gol
Chaffey Park, 4pm
WORKERS Gol Gol should maintain their position at the head of the SCA table when they travel to Chaffey Park to clash with Merbein South.
The Saints opened their account last weekend, but Workers will prove a much more difficult proposition than Coomealla Wentworth.
Gol Gol are again looking serious contenders and despite a loss to Nichols Point in the earlier rounds they look on track for another top-four finish.
Adam Thomson, Nick Jensen, Wade Hancock and Shac Thomas lead from the front.
Hancock is enjoying a great start to the season with the bat, while Jensen is a solid contributor with both bat and ball.
Merbein South will be looking for Mark White, Ethan Gray and Hamim Miah to get the job done for them.
Mildura West v Coomealla Wentworth
Aero Ovals, 4pm
MILDURA West and Coomealla Wentworth will see their match at Aero Ovals as an opportunity to get some much needed points.
Both sides have struggled, but a win in this game could be just what they need to get their seasons back on track.
Mildura West look to have the better depth and with a player of Chris Williams class in their line-up they might just have the edge in what should be an entertaining game.
Mildura East v Nichols Point
City Oval, 4pm
MILDURA East will be out to prove a point when they host Nichols Point.
There is sure to be some feeling in this match with Shaun Mathews and Brad Thomas lining up for the first time against their old side.
Thomas and Mathews joined Nichols Point over the off-season as captain and coach respectively and East’s loss has certainly been Nichols Point’s gain.
The experienced pair have added some much-needed depth and experience to the Pointers line-up, Thomas enjoying a great start with the bat.
But Josh Berry and his young Mildura East teammates will be out to cause an upset.
East have already got a couple of wins on the board and will consider themselves a real chance in this game.
Jayden Hunt is sure to test Thomas and Nichols Point’s other upper-order batsmen with the new ball and if he can get an early break through it will certainly enhance the home sides’ chances.
