COOMEALLA Wentworth’s season-high total proved too much for ladder leaders Irymple, who dropped their first game of the Sunraysia Cricket Association season.
Chasing 274 for victory, the Swallows finished their 80 overs at 8/228, securing the Blues’ place inside the top four with three rounds remaining.
At 5/83 Irymple looked in trouble and ultimately couldn’t recover, but not through a lack of effort.
Wicket-keeper Nick Giofre compiled his highest score of the season with 58, holding together the top order, before No.10 Chase Stone (62 not out) and Jed Connelly (42 not out) shared an unbeaten 87-run ninth-wicket partnership.
After his 36 the previous week, Justin Freeman led the wicket taking with 2/47, while every Blues bowler took at least one wicket.
There was plenty of speculation about whether or not Wednesday night’s deluge would stop the contest between Nichols Point and Mildura West in its tracks, with Nichols Point Reserve still partly under water on Friday.
Curator Geoff Leng clearly put in a power of work to get the game going again, albeit not so swimmingly for the home side.
Resuming 2/7, West found themselves at 4/12 when nightwatchmen Lachlan McCarty and Locke Thornton were both dismissed by Shaun Mathews, leaving them on the back foot chasing 129.
The visitors however, through Greg Lewis (50), Shane Driscoll (31), Chris Williams (29) and Aaron Feroz (23 not out), reached the total with three wickets in hand, eventually being all out for 185.
Mathews led the way for the Point with 5/57, Jack Norton taking 2/22.
Gol Gol weren’t able to claim the outright victory over Mildura East, but dismissed them for 53 before they made another 2/73 to secure the victory, taking another step towards catching Irymple at the top of the table.
After making 211 last week, the NSW side made light work of the East outfit, with Connor Robinson top-scoring with 18.
Jayden Brooks (3/8), Luke Hickey (3/23) and Nick Jensen (2/2) led the way with the wickets.
Following on, East completed the allotted time at 2/73 with Brett Higgins (37 not out) and Robinson (29 not out) leading the way.
Mildura Settlers returned to their winning ways with a solid six-wicket victory over Merbein South.
Chasing 152 for victory, Setts had lost their first two wickets on week one, but a 100-run third wicket partnership from Luke Stanbrook (87) and Paddy Keogh (46) put the reigning champions in the driver’s seat.
Setts would go on to finish all out for 234, with the biggest surprise being a late-order cameo from Jason Morrison, who appeared to seriously injure his calf just two weeks ago. Listed at No.11, Morrison made 19 from 13 deliveries with two sixes.
Robbie Roelofs continued his good bowling form for the Saints, taking 4/50, with Stuart Watson (2/33) and Tony Trinick (2/46) also among the wickets.
