IRYMPLE went top of the Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder with two stifling performances with the ball and in the field against Workers Gol Gol and Mildura West on Saturday.
The Swallows held previously top side Workers Gol Gol to 8/75 and then West to 6/78 on their way to nine and 10 wicket wins, much to the delight of co-captain Mark Thomson.
“Our bowling and fielding really set the day up for us,” he said.
“Bowling first in both games and keeping them to under 18 in both innings was pretty good.”
Only four boundaries were scored off Irymple’s bowling for the day — two in each game — and Irymple’s figures could have looked even better if not for 12 extras in the first game and another 17 against West.
“It was pretty promising to cut out the boundary balls, we did bowl a few more extras than what we would have liked across the games but overall it was a pretty pleasing performance with the ball.”
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With the bat in Irymple’s crunch match against Workers Gol Gol Jarrad Armsden, who had only scored 41 runs across six innings before Christmas, greeted the new year with an unbeaten 45 off 22 to help his side chase down the runs in the seventh over.
“It was really pleasing to see him go out and play his shots,” Thomson said.
“It came off for him pretty well.
“Chasing that small total it was pretty good to go out and knock it on the head, sometimes small totals can be difficult chases.”
Irymple play Mildura Settlers and Merbein South this weekend in another set of Twenty20s, with fourth-placed Settlers expected to pose a challenge.
“They are one of those top end teams we will more than likely come up against again towards the end of the season,” Thomson said.
“It will be good to test ourselves and see where we are at.”
