WORKERS Gol Gol will go into the White Ball Cup final brimming with confidence and heir sights firmly set on taking over top spot on the Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder after another clinical performance on Saturday.
Workers take on Irymple in the cup final on February 9 and are continuing to apply pressure on Mildura Settlers atop the SCA ladder.
The top three sides have separated themselves from the pack heading into the return of two-day fixtures next weekend after the completion of the white-ball games on Saturday.
Workers Gol Gol captain-coach Adam Thomson said he would look for a change of mindset with the return of the longer format.
“We’re still working on a few areas,” he said.
“We batted a lot better yesterday but obviously last week we were bowled out for 120, which isn’t going to win you many games.
“It’s really important in the two-day games to bat out our 80 overs. If we bat out those overs we’ll tend to win more games than we lose.”
Mildura West won the toss and batted at John Hall Oval but things turned sour pretty quickly when opener Ben Hallam was dismissed for a third-ball duck to make it 1/0.
West continued to lose wickets constantly with the only Will Parsons (31) and Luke Hickey (21) able to offer any resistance before the side was bowled out for 85 in the 39th over.
Aidan Calarco was the destroyer for Workers Gol Gol claiming 3/4 off eight overs which included five maidens.
Nick Jensen (3/16 off eight) and Jake Albrecht (2/25 off seven) were the other bowlers of note.
“Our bowlers were really good (on Saturday),” Thomson said.
“We’re gelling really well together at the moment, so hopefully we can continue that winning form towards the end of the season.”
Workers Gol Gol were never really troubled in their run chase after losing opener Ben McPhee for a third-ball duck with Wade Hancock (46 not out) and Shac Thomas (28) providing the bulk of the runs as they reached 2/88 after 26 overs.
Mildura Settlers 2/141 d Coomealla Wentworth 140
AN outstanding all-round game from Jason Morrison allowed Mildura Settlers to easily overcome Coomealla Wentworth at Mildura Senior College.
Morrison took 2/13 off five overs as Coomealla Wentworth were bowled out for 140 in the 40th over after winning the toss and batting.
Richie Wyld was also outstanding with the ball for Settlers with 3/35 off eight overs while Brayden Wood claimed 2/17 off 7.3.
Tom Douglas top scored with 30 for Coomealla Wentworth.
Morrison made short work of the run chase for Settlers, hitting six sixes and six fours on his way to 83 not out opening the batting as they reached 2/141 after 24 overs.
Brayden Turner was the other not out batsman with 21.
Nichols Point 2/222 d Merbein South 220
A BRILLIANT century from opener Josh Carmichael was not enough for Merbein South to claim the win against Nichols Point at Nichols Point Reserve.
Carmichael smashed a brilliant 153 but lacked any great support with Chris Grimmer (13 not out) and Cameron Grimwood (10) the only other Merbein South batsmen to score in double figures as the side was bowled out for a competitive 220.
Star import Kaushik Aphale was the pick of the Pointers bowlers with 3/47 while Dean Fulco and Anthony Morris took two wickets apiece.
An unbeaten 94 from opener Brad Thomas and Jackson Richman’s 74 allowed Nichols Point to ease to victory, finishing 2/222 after 35 overs.
HIGHLIGHTS
First Division
Josh Carmichael (Merbein South) 153
Brad Thomas (Nichols Point) 94 not out
Jason Morrison (Mildura Settlers) 83 not out and 2/13
Aidan Calarco (Workers Gol Gol) 3/4
Wade Hancock (Workers Gol Gol) 46 not out.
Second Division
Patrick Chapman (Coomealla Wentworth) 4/11
Eli Alabaster (Mildura Settlers) 3/2
Brett Millington (Mildura East) 50 not out.
Third Division
Phillip Wright (Nichols Point) 55 retired hurt
John Mihaljevic (Nichols Point) 3/9
Riley Cameron (Workers Gol Gol) 66 not out.
Fourth Division
Justin Merrett (Irymple) 59
Raghbir Singh (Mildura East) 67
Kirwin Moore (Merbein South) 54.
