Irymple v Mildura Settlers
Henshilwood Oval
THE top-of-the-table clash and clear match of the round.
First-placed Settlers travel to Henshilwood to take on their nearest rival, Irymple.
Settlers have been boosted with the unexpected availability of top-order batsman Luke Stanbrook.
Stanbrook had been set to miss this match due to football commitments in the Northern Territory Football League with Southern Districts this weekend, but cyclone conditions in the Top End put paid to his travel plans.
Mark Cleary also returns, which is a big plus for Setts with his all-round ability and experience, but gun pace bowler Luke Coates is unavailable.
Irymple are without their own dangerous paceman Chase Stone, but have a strong bowling line-up that can challenge the top-level batsmen Settlers possess.
These two sides last met in a Twenty20 back in round 7, with Irymple comfortable winners by eight wickets with four overs to spare.
This time around Settlers will be much stronger, particularly with the bat, and with more overs to play with are going to be a different challenge for a side that does play its home deck well.
Nichols Point v Mildura East
Nichols Point Reserve
ANOTHER grudge match between Pointers skipper Brad Thomas and his former team.
Thomas traded the yellow and blue of East for the Pointers’ green and gold in the off-season and has produced with the bat in season 2019-20.
But he will be looking for help today with club coach and fellow former East star Shaun Mathews out injured.
Three-time Innes Medal winner David Hogarth has been called up to the First Division side to provide experience at the top of the order, but the Pointers will be hoping to get more out of veteran Dale Chappell and the likes of Dean Fulco and Tyson Giles with the bat to help Thomas and class import Kaushik Aphale.
East are without the two older Berry brothers, captain and wicketkeeper Josh (absent) and key bowler Jhy (shoulder), with the experience of Andrew Ross and Brett Higgins to be key in in a relatively young side for the visitors.
Lochie Symes has stepped up from captaining the club’s Fourth Division last season and has shown the ability to anchor an innings, but the other end will need batsmen capable of ticking the runs over.
Big hitter Shawn Clarke has been such a player at lower levels and with limited overs to play with he is potentially one who can surprise.
Coomealla Wentworth v Mildura West
George Gordon Oval
THIS is a must-win match for Mildura West.
The visitors sit in fifth and cannot risk the gap widening between them and Nichols Point in fourth.
On paper it shouldn’t be a problem, but this is a side that has learnt they can’t take anything for granted after a loss last start before Christmas to struggling Mildura East.
Captain Chris Williams shoulders a lot of responsibility with the bat and will be hoping for some support from the likes of talented opener Ben Hallam, veteran all-rounder Brandon Dixon, keeper-batsman Greg Lewis and import batsman Will Parsons.
Coomealla Wentworth have managed a couple of surprise results this year, including a big upset over Workers Gol Gol, but overall have struggled from week to week.
Captain Justin Freeman and his brother Liam are handy players, particularly with the ball, and Matt Job and Tom Douglas are steady, but the Blues will need a good team performance to be able to get the points.
Workers Gol Gol v Merbein South
Alcheringa Oval
MERBEIN South need a win to keep their finals hopes alive, but it won’t be easy against a talented Workers Gol Gol side on their home deck.
The Saints sit in sixth place, 11.16 points behind Mildura West, fifth, and 31.92 shy of fourth-placed Nichols Point.
With both those sides having very winnable games against eighth-placed Coomealla Wentworth and seventh-placed Mildura East respectively, the 10 points up for grabs are vital.
A loss, coupled especially with a Nichols Point win, and it would suddenly become very difficult for Merbein South to get into the top four by the end of the minor rounds.
Merbein South’s old firm of Mark White and Shane Trinick are going to be important for their side should they snatch the points from their underdog position.
Workers Gol Gol, meanwhile, are well entrenched in third spot, clear of Nichols Point, and with a win today would leapfrog Irymple into second should the Swallows lose to Settlers.
Last year’s runners-up aren’t taking all-comers like they did last season but have an array of talent.
Experienced paceman Matt Cameron will be important in the second half of the season while key import Shac Thomas is always a threat at the top of the order.
