Coomealla Wentworth v Irymple
George Gordon Oval
LAST WEEK: Coomealla Wentworth had a thrilling last-ball win over highly rated Workers Gol Gol, while Irymple swept aside Mildura West in convincing fashion.
CHANGES: Both sides have named unchanged line-ups from their first-up wins last weekend.
ONES TO WATCH: Coomealla Wentworth’s bowling is usually around the mark but they will be after some more good performances from the likes of Luke Cullinan and Matt Job. Cullinan’s measured half-century last weekend and Job’s Michael Bevan-like finishing display were crucial to their sides’ win. For Irymple, reigning joint Innes medallist Bryson Lush is always a big factor with bat and ball and last weekend, against old club West, started his season where he left off.
THE WORD: “(It’s) going to be a huge challenge for us again, but if we can execute the plans that we have in place for teams and players then I think we will be competitive and have another close game on our hands.”
– Coomealla Wentworth captain
Justin Freeman
Mildura West v Merbein South
John Hall Oval
LAST WEEK: Both sides were easily beaten in their opening matches, Mildura West at the hands of flag fancy Irymple and Merbein South by Nichols Point.
CHANGES : Mildura West have brought in two of the club’s most experienced First Division cricketers in former coach and multiple Innes medallist Chris Williams as well as reliable all-rounder Brandon Dixon, at the expense of left-arm pace bowler Cal Humphreys and Andrew Danson. Merbein South have brought in experience of their own with dual Innes medallist Mark White coming in to boslter his side’s batting line-up. Cam Holland, who had an expensive First Division debut with the ball opening the bowling for the Saints, makes way.
ONES TO WATCH: Dylan Vertigan made a solid debut for Merbein South last weekend with the bat, showing pride in his wicket as well as the ability to hit big. For Mildura West, new coach Davison Mbindi had an inglorious start to Sunraysia cricket against Irymple, run out for a duck, but has a long resume in cricket and will be keen to make amends.
THE WORD: Two sides that didn’t have an ideal start to their 2020-21 campaigns. The last time they played it was a resounding win to Mildura West that clinched a finals berth for the team from John Hall Oval last season. Merbein South coach Darren James spoke in the pre-season about his team’s poor end to last season and being more competitive – today is their chance to show they can back up his words.
Workers Gol Gol v Mildura East
Alcheringa Oval
LAST WEEK: Workers Gol Gol had a shock first-up loss to Coomealla Wentworth in a match that could have gone either way, while East were swept aside relatively comfortably by a strong Mildura Settlers line-up.
CHANGES: Jayden Brooks comes up from the Seconds for Workers Gol Gol, with middle- order batsman Jesse McGinty out. East’s top-scorer from last weekend Brett Higgins is out, along with Arslan Safdar and Brar Singh with Shawn Clarke, Muki Sharma and Aaron Cordell named as replacements.
ONES TO WATCH: It was a bit of an anti-climax last weekend when Workers Gol Gol master blaster Shac Thomas was dismissed off his first ball. The hard-hitting Jamaican rarely fails twice in a row. At East, Tom Vadlja played just one game last season but is one of the greats of Sunraysia cricket and if he finds form East will be more than competitive.
THE WORD: “The boys were happy to get back into it. At the end of the day, they bowled a lot better than us, so we will just look to next week.”
– Workers Gol Gol captain-coach Adam Thomson on last weekend’s shock loss
Nichols Point v Mildura Settlers
Nichols Point Reserve
LAST WEEK: Nichols Point did all the work early with the bat before faltering late but still winning comfortably against Merbein South. Mildura Settlers won with eight overs and six wickets to spare over Mildura East.
CHANGES: Nichols Point have lost youngsters Tate Hulland and Carmine Cavallaro, with Paul Bamford up from the seconds to take the gloves from Hulland and experienced bat Dale Chappell also earning a recall. Settlers have lost bowler Brak Zambelli, with Josh Coates his replacement.
ONES TO WATCH: Luke Coates’ defection to Nichols Point was one of the big talking points of the off-season. The pace bowler did not bowl last weekend and would be itching to get the ball in hand against his old club. His heir apparent at Settlers Seamus Keogh took four wickets last week in a great first-up showing. Leigh Thomson-Mathews (Nichols Point) and Jason Morrison (Mildura Settlers) shape up as good watching with the bat.
THE WORD: A real acid test for Nichols Point against a side expected to be near the top.
