Workers Gol Gol v Mildura East
Alcheringa Oval
NIGHT cricket returns to Alcheringa Oval on Friday night when Workers Gol Gol host Mildura East in round four of the Sunraysia Cricket Association.
Workers suffered their first loss of the season last round at the hands of an improving Nichols Point and with such an even competition early, wins are at a premium.
But this game is sure to present some challenges for the home side.
Mildura East are a developing, young team who have proven themselves more than competitive in the opening three rounds.
With two wins and sitting in fifth position, just outside the top four on percentage, Mildura East will be keen to further enhance their credentials with a win over highly fancied Workers.
The white-ball game can be a great leveller and add in the unfamiliar conditions of night cricket and you have a contest which could go either way.
Twenty20 matches are always played at a furious pace and the team which fields and bowls the best usually gets the points.
Workers have a strong attack with plenty of variation, but spinner Nick Jensen could hold the key.
Jensen has a great ability to slow the run-scoring down and is often the player captain Adam Thomson goes to when a batting side is off the leash.
East’s strength is also their bowling, but scoring enough runs could be a problem for the visitors.
Workers have one of the best batting line-ups in the competition led by Shac Thomas, but it’s players like Thomson, Wade Hancock and Joshua Deren which make them such a strong batting side.
Hancock has found form early and if he can get among the runs again, then Workers should be able to get across the line in what should be an entertaining match.
Coomealla Wentworth v Merbein South
Coomealla
MERBEIN South’s Shane Trinick will be hoping to celebrate his 300th game on Friday night with a win over Coomealla Wentworth.
The milestone is sure to provide plenty of inspiration for his Saint’s teammates who will be wanting to celebrate the event with a win.
Both sides are yet to open their account this year and the importance of the match won’t be lost on either side.
The loser could find themselves three games outside the top four, not a position either club would like to be in so early in the season.
Coomealla Wentworth’s slow start can be blamed partially on the unavailability of key personnel, but with Justin and Liam Freeman making a return last weekend they look a much stronger outfit.
The Saints, although winless, have shown promising signs and will be heading into this game confident of getting the job done.
Trinick, although in the twilight of his career, is still a warrior with bat and ball.
Already this season he has shown his class and fierce competitive spirit, but with the added inspiration of such a big occasion he’s sure to lift even more.
Hamim Miah and Mark White have shown themselves capable of scoring well and they will be looking to add to their good early season form Friday night on arguably the best batting wicket in the competition.
All grades ready to hit the pitch
EVERY grade in the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) will be in action this weekend.
It has been a staggered start for the different divisions of the competition this season.
Division One and Two got under way a couple weeks ago and have already played three rounds, with two Twenty20 matches being played last Saturday.
They again have a double-header, starting on Friday night, with two of the round 4 matches starting at 7.30pm followed by the remaining two matches on Saturday starting at 12.30pm.
Round five then follows at 4pm.
The third and fourth divisions play their first games of the season, while the junior and women’s competitions head into their second round.
Previews of the remaining first division games will be in tomorrow’s edition of the Sunraysia Daily, including the clash between undefeated sides Irymple and Nichols Point.
