SUNRAYSIA’S Under 17 cricket squad has triumphed at Northern Rivers Country Week with an impressive undefeated campaign.
The talented underage crew confirmed the result on Friday with a four-wicket victory over Goulburn Murray in Bendigo, Nichols Point’s Lewis Dichiera starring with 55 runs and 2/25.
Goulburn Murray were all out for 141, with Mildura Settlers’ Beau Kiel leading the way with 3/26.
Point duo Riley Jobson and Dichiera and Merbein’s Angus Smith all grabbed two wickets each. Smith finished the week with the most wickets in the age group with nine.
Despite the early loss of wickets, Dichiera, captain Monty Moloney of Setts (22) and Point’s Oliver Murray (19) played important roles in the run chase, reaching 6/142 with eight overs to spare.
Point opener Riley Jobson was the top scorer for the week with 178 runs, including 97 in game one against Bendigo.
It was two consecutive wins over Goulburn Murray after Sunraysia defeated them by six wickets on Thursday, which included a 98-run partnership between Dichiera and Murray.
In other notable performances, Smith took a hat-trick in the opening contest against Bendigo, while Mildura East’s Surendra Prajapat took 6/8 during their seven-wicket win over Murray Valley.
Meanwhile, the Sunraysia Under 15 side finished their week with two wins and a loss to finish third, only missing the final on run rate.
They finished the campaign on a high with a 17-run win over eventual finalists Shepparton by 17 runs.
Batting first, the Sunraysia boys were all out for 151 with West duo Cooper Penny and Max Morgan each top scoring with 27, Nichols Point’s Colby Marr scoring another 21.
Marr had the fifth most overall runs with 76 prior to the final.
In response, Shepparton were dismissed for 134, with Merbein’s Sam Farmer leading the charge with 3/21. Point’s Hugo Garraway and West’s Josh Driscoll each took two wickets.
Irymple’s Tyler McGregor impressed with 3/46 during Sunraysia’s opening round loss to Bendigo, while Driscoll (41 and 2/14) and Marr (37) combined well to defeat Goulburn Murray.
