Mathews comes through in the crunch
NICHOLS Point coach Shaun Mathews taught an inexperienced Merbein South outfit a lesson in batting at the death on Saturday.
With Nichols Point needing 15 to win off the final over, bowled by youngster Jackson Malycha, Mathews dispatched the first ball of the over for four to fire his side’s hopes.
The next three balls he worked for twos before hitting the second to last ball of the over for six over mid-wicket to clinch the game.
His 36 off 17 balls was a good display of keeping composed when the situation required and managing a run chase, in a time when a lot of cricketers would get themselves out trying to smash every ball.
Carmichael cameo lights up Point
EARLIER in the same match at Nichols Point Reserve, Merbein South’s Josh Carmichael scored one of the best centuries likely to be seen in Sunraysia.
Roped in to play having just arrived during the afternoon from Adelaide, Carmichael looked as casual as ever opening the batting in just a cap with the likes of Dan Chapman and Luke Coates sending them down for Nichols Point but did it easy for his 121 not out off 66 balls.
He was dropped once before 50 but apart from that was cruising, with 11 fours and eight sixes in his knock.
His efforts helped Merbein South finish 4/188 from their 20 overs, but unfortunately for his side the hosts passed the total with just one ball to spare.
Coomie’s resurgence continues
IN the pre-season not many would have picked Coomealla Wentworth to be sitting in third after Christmas with a two-game cushion in the top four.
But that is where they find themselves following two solid wins on Saturday against Merbein South and Settlers.
Limited-overs cricket suits the Blues, whose strength largely comes with the ball and in the field.
Bevan Wade was key on Saturday with 5/16 in the first game and then 33 with the bat in the second.
Captain Justin Freeman, Luke Cullinan and Matt Job also made scores across the day to help their side keep the wins coming.
