Crucial match for top four hopefuls

RED CLIFFS CRICKET ASSOCIATION PREVIEW – ROUND 7

BOTH Millewa and Ouyen Rams will look to solidify themselves inside the Red Cliffs Cricket Association (RCCA) A Grade top four in the final round before the Christmas break.

With the Rams currently second and the Bullants in fourth, it’s a chance for either side to ensure they’re entrenched in the top echelon of teams before the second half of the season resumes on January 8.

Ouyen were able to take down an in-form Robinvale Euston outfit last week, while Millewa got the chocolates over Cardross.

With Daniel Pryse, Alex Morrish and Daniel Kay taking a combined 22 wickets so far this campaign, and Conor Schultz and Ethan Munro inside the top six run scorers so far, the Rams have had plenty of performers.

After restricting Cardross to 9/140, Millewa made the total with three wickets and 10 overs remaining, led by another half-century from skipper Scottie Clark (63) and Ashley Durie (35 not out), while Nick Carroll starred with the ball taking 5/25, just the second five-wicket haul of the season so far.

The game of the round will take place at the Quandong Park Caravan Park Oval.

Tempy v Robinvale Euston

After their three-game winning streak was brought to an end last week, Robinvale Euston will look to recover against a Tempy side searching for their second victory of the season.

The Tigers fell just short against their grand final nemesis from last season, Nursery Ridge, while the Rangers were rolled by Ouyen.

Heath Smith (4/16) and Ben Mole (3/18) led the way with the ball against Ridge, with Smith (22) and Joel Monaghan (21) the best performed with the bat.

After making 6/163 the previous week, Robinvale Euston were rolled for just 66 by the Rams, with Tom Lister making 28 of those runs.

Their bowling unit wasn’t given much to defend, although 1/6 from seven overs was an impressive feat of economy by Travis Shawcross.

If players like Tom Zappia and Jesse McGinty can fire, then the Rangers are a good chance to return to the winners list.

Cardross v Nursery Ridge

The bottom side in the RCCA face the top side in the final encounter of 2021, and Cardross would love nothing more than an early Christmas present of a victory over Nursery Ridge.

In fact, a victory for the Lions would be their first over Ridge in A Grade competition since November 17, 2018.

While they’ve had just the one victory so far, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Cardross, with Noah Langian topping the bowling charts with 14 wickets, five more than the next best player. He also made 31 with the bat last week while skipper Seth Langian made a half-century.

There are plenty of performers for Ridge, however, Daniel Nulty has popped up with the ball in recent weeks, equal second on the wicket takers charts with nine.

Shannon Bowen still leads the run scoring with 213 despite some lower scores in recent innings.