A LOGJAM is forming in the Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder with three rounds remaining before the mid-season break.
Teams in third to seventh place all have two wins on the board and are separated by percentage, with the only outliers being the undefeated Gol Gol, Irymple (three wins) and Mildura Settlers (one win).
Merbein have kept themselves inside the top four following an important two-wicket win over Coomealla Wentworth at Chaffey Park.
The Magpies resumed at 1/26, needing another 140 runs for victory. The Magpies did just that and went on to be dismissed for 224, led by a more patient 50 from Hamim Miah, and an important lower order 40 from Riley Clifford to see them across the line.
Jarrod Forrester (29), Angus Lang (24) and Tony Trinnick (23) also held the bat well.
In his opening First XI match of the season, Andrew Price took 4/34 for Coomealla Wentworth, while coach Liam Freeman finishing with 3/53.
Nichols Point have surged into third on the ladder following a huge 183-run win over Settlers at Mildura Senior College.
After the Pointers’ 7/271 last week, led by 118 from Shannon Bowen, Setts could only manage 88 all out.
Reigning Innes Medal winner Shawn Mathews did the bulk of the damage with the ball, taking 6/46, with youngster Lewis Dichiera chiming in with 2/12 from 10 overs. Michael Penna gave the most resistance with a lower order 21.
Irymple could not quite secure the outright victory over Mildura West, but an official three-wicket win at Henshilwood Reserve was certainly handy for the Swallows.
Resuming at 4/77 and requiring just 49 runs, they made anther 39 with the loss of three wickets, however a blistering 82 not out from 68 deliveries by Jarrad Armsden saw them get the job done.
Ryan Muir also scored a quickfire 31, while West import Charlie Walker finished with 4/75.
West finished at 7/94 in their second innings with import Kian Burns scoring a season-high 43. Capping off a good day for Armsden, he took 2/8 with Dom Price nabbing 2/24.
After being forced to delay the start of their game by a week, Gol Gol made up for last time by defeating Mildura East by 118 runs at Brian Weightman Oval.
Gol Gol opener Aidan Calarco maintained his strong early season from with 58 as the NSW side finished their 40 overs at 7/179. Shac Thomas (29), Wade Hancock (25) and Jeremy Barnes (21) also made handy contributions.
East all-rounder Andrew Ross was industrious taking 5/63 from 20 overs.
The home side then struggled to get much momentum going, dismissed in the 38th over for 61 with import Josh Bowyer making almost half the runs with 27.
Thomas led the bowling with 4/14 with Luke Hickey (3/33) and Stuart Hallam (2/10) also among the wickets.
