NICHOLS Point’s finals aspirations hang in the balance after Saturday’s loss to second-placed Workers Gol Gol.
The Pointers needed to win to consolidate fourth position and their two-game buffer over nearest rival Mildura West.
The loss means they now must defeat Mildura West this weekend or face the agonising prospect of missing out on a finals berth.
It was Workers’ star all-rounders Shacaya Thomas and Nick Jensen who provided the difference between the two sides.
Thomas was back to his brilliant best scoring 62 with the bat and then backing it up with his best bowling figures of the season, 6/33 off 13.4 overs.
Jensen was also in good touch with the bat, contributing 74 to help his side to 7/179 after Nichols Point skipper Brad Thomas won the toss and sent the visitors in.
Nichols Point started their run chase well with openers Dean Fulco (29) and Brad Thomas (16) both getting starts, but the wheels quickly fell off with only two other players, Kaushik Aphale (12) and Will Liddle (16) reaching double figures as the home side were dismissed for 132 in the 33rd over.
Mildura Settlers 8/184 d Merbein South 9/136
MILDURA Settlers cemented their position at the top of the Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) First Division ladder with a comfortable win over Merbein South at Mildura Senior College on Saturday.
Batting first, Setts posted 8/184 off their 40 overs with Paddy Keogh (49) and all-rounder Mark Cleary (41) leading the way.
Cleary was at his aggressive best, scoring at better than a run a ball, while Keogh took a much more subdued approach, happy to play a secondary role as his more senior teammate went on the attack.
In reply Merbein South could manage only 9/136, thanks mainly to some tight bowling by veteran seamer Mark “Cabbage” Kerr, who celebrated his 300th match for Setts with 3/23 off 12 overs.
Promising young paceman Seamus Keogh provided good support, chipping in with 3/29 off eight overs.
For the Saints, Mark White played a lone hand with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 82.
Mildura West 8/215 d Mildura East 8/114
MILDURA West have kept their finals chances alive with a big win over Mildura East at John Hall Oval.
Chasing the modest total of 114, West never looked in trouble with opener Ben Hallam leading the way with a brilliant unbeaten 115 of 132 balls as the home side finished with 8/215.
The win has moved Mildura West within one win of fourth placed Nichols Point, making this Saturday’s match between the two sides a must-win game for both teams.
Aaron Feroz continued his great form with the ball for West capturing 4/21 off 19 overs, but the day belonged to young opener Hallam.
Hallam carried his bat throughout the innings as he steered his side to victory in his best performance of the season.
Brett Higgins was Mildura East’s best with 28.
Irymple 3/91 d Coomealla Wentworth 83, 2/44
IRYMPLE’S charge towards this year’s finals serious continues to gain momentum with a comfortable win over Coomealla Wentworth.
Sent into bat after losing the toss, the Blues were never able to take control against a strong Swallows attack, dismissed in their first innings for 83 with Luke Cullinan (37) and Justin Freeman (26) top-scoring.
In reply, Irymple went on the attack with Bryson Lush leading the way with 58 off 53 balls as they reached their target in the 15th over before declaring and sending Coomealla Wentworth back in as they chased valuable bonus points.
At the close of play the Swallows had claimed 2/44.
