Mildura West v Coomealla Wentworth
John Hall Oval
COOMEALLA Wentworth have almost been the story of the season in SCA cricket, sitting third and two games clear inside the four.
An expected win over Merbein South was followed by a good victory over Settlers last weekend, and the Blues are rolling nicely.
Against a West side reeling from a 0-2 start to the new year, and still without lynchpin Chris Williams, they start favourites to keep things going today in their first match.
Tom Douglas and Alston Cook come out for Darby McLean and Jake Wright, but the Blues still have their main pieces in with the likes of the Freeman brothers and Bevan Wade in good form this year.
West went down to East and Irymple last weekend and have fallen well back in the race to finals, 10 points behind fifth-placed Nichols Point and 30 off fourth.
Tim Watson, Sam Magnisalis and Jayden Zanoni come out for this game with Lachie McCarty, Greg Lewis and Joel Minter in.
Coomealla Wentworth play Workers Gol Gol in their second game while West host Nichols Point.
Merbein South v Mildura East
Chaffey Park
MILDURA East are coming off a 1-1 effort last weekend, beating West and then losing to Workers Gol Gol.
Notching their second win of the season in the process will give them plenty of confidence of grabbing win No.3 first up today against winless Merbein South.
Charley Cooper is out, along with Brett Higgins, for Jhy Berry and Arslan Safdar.
Tom Vadlja went early in last week’s second game but was crucial with 41 in the win over West, while captain-coach Josh Berry was his steady self in good support.
It’s East’s bowling attack that sets them apart in this match – the likes of Jayden Hunt and Jhy Berry should be too strong for a weakened Merbein South line-up.
Josh Carmichael and Ilario Cavallo combined for a hundred run opening stand for the Saints last weekend – Carmichael finishing unbeaten with an imperious century.
Between them they accounted for 157 of Merbein South’s 188 runs against Nichols Point, and that was still in a loss, but they are out this time around.
The experienced Mark White comes in along with fellow veteran Aaron Walder, Damon Duffield and Brady Moore.
Dylan Vertigan and Jackson Malycha are the other omissions.
East play Settlers at Mildura Senior College in their second game while Merbein South host Irymple.
Workers Gol Gol v Nichols Point
Alcheringa Oval
NICHOLS Point need a big scalp today as they look to keep pace with the top four.
Two games adrift of fourth-placed Settlers, they have a task ahead against second-placed Workers Gol Gol.
The visitors would be hoping their momentum from their batting innings last weekend against Merbein South can carry over.
Chasing down 188 should give them some confidence, with coach Shaun Mathews especially important following his 36 not out.
Dean Fulco and Dan Chapman are unavailable this week, with Will Liddle and Matt Boyd coming in for this game.
Workers Gol Gol regain Simon Groves, Muhammad Haidry and Nick Jensen from the side that went 1-1 last weekend against Irymple and Mildura East.
Nichols Point are away to West and Workers Gol Gol host New South Wales rivals Coomealla Wentworth in their second matches of the day.
