Mildura West 138 v Workers Gol Gol 4/32
Alcheringa Oval
MILDURA West need early wickets to continue to apply pressure to Workers Gol Gol when their Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) First Division match resumes at Alcheringa Oval on Saturday.
The game hangs in the balance after Mildura West were bundled out for 138, before clawing their way back into the contest with the ball to have the home side in trouble at 4/32.
Brandon Dixon did the damage for the visitors on day one, claiming both openers in an excellent spell of bowling, and he will be hoping to add to his tally when play resumes.
Promising youngster Bailey Pengelly (0) and Joshua Deren (10) are the not out batsmen.
Both players will be looking to get their side off to a solid start knowing their is still plenty of batting depth to come.
The availability of Wade Hancock is a major bonus for Workers. The classy upper-order batsman missed last weekend, but comes into the side as a substitute for Nick Jensen.
Hancock is one of the in-form batsmen of the competition and while Workers’ scorecard doesn’t look great, with someone of his talent to come they would consider themselves a chance to chase down West’s first-innings total.
Irymple 191 v Mildura East 0/16
Henshilwood Oval
MILDURA East are in a solid position heading into the second day of their round 9 clash with Irymple.
A strong bowling performance last weekend restricted the Swallows to 191, they then followed up to be 0/16 on the opening day with Josh Berry (10) and Lochlan Symes (three) still at the crease.
Berry and Symes will be looking to consolidate early, hoping to build a match-winning partnership as East look for their third win of the season.
But Irymple will still feel like they have enough runs to defend.
The Swallows have a versatile bowling attack, Chase Stone the pick of them along with Dan Coghlan.
Stone has shown in the past he has the ability to rip through upper-order batting line-ups and if he can get an early break-through, it will put pressure on the young East side.
Merbein South 128 v Nichols Point 2/59
Chaffey Park
NICHOLS Point should have enough batting depth to chase down Merbein South’s modest first-innings total of 128.
The Pointers are 2/59, but with captain Brad Thomas unbeaten on 36 and veteran international Kaushik Aphale not out 1, they should be able to push their way to victory.
But veteran paceman Shane Trinick and talented youngster Campbell Griffiths will ensure the Pointers don’t get it all their own way.
Trinick might be in the twilight of his career, but he is showing no signs of slowing down and with Griffiths, who has been plagued by injuries in the past couple of years, back to lend some much-needed support, the Saints attack looks dangerous.
Mildura Settlers 4/262 dec v Coomealla Wentworth 3/13
McLeod Oval
LADDER leaders Mildura Settlers will be looking for outright points when their match resumes against Coomealla Wentworth.
Setts put themselves in a strong position after day one, declaring at 4/262 and then ripping through the Blues’ upper order to have them reeling at 3/13 at the close of play.
It was paceman Luke Coates who did the damage on the opening day and he will be out to wreak more havoc on Saturday.
Coates, who was one of Setts’ premiership heroes last season, was at his devastating best, bowling with pace and control.
If he can get his line right in the opening overs, then wickets should flow, paving the way for Setts to chase maximum points.
