SUNRAYSIA won seven of nine games across all age groups at this week’s Mallee Murray Junior Country Week cricket tournament.
The top cricket talents from the region hit the road to take on Swan Hill in under 17, under 15 and under 13 representative contests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The top age group had a clean sweep across their three matches, while under 15 and 13 sides won two each.
Sunraysia’s 17s got off to a great start with a two-wicket win after Swan Hill were knocked over for 79 with Nichols Point’s Brodie Ryan taking 5/12 and Merbein’s Angus Smith 2/18.
Sunraysia just got across the line by two wickets, finishing at 9/103, with Mildura Settlers’ Beau Kiel (25) and Point’s Oliver Murray (21) top scoring.
Murray again led the charge in Sunraysia’s 137-run win on Wednesday, top scoring with 68.
Smith also had a great all-round day with an unbeaten 30 and 3/12 as the SCA side posted 7/206 before dismissing Swan Hill for 69.
Point’s Lewis Dichiera’s all-round performance of 57 plus 2/12 helped Sunraysia to a final day three-wicket win.
Swan Hill finished their 30 overs at 4/116, with the visitors chasing down the target with 13 balls spare.
The Sunraysia under 15 squad began with a seven-wicket win, with Point’s Colby Marr (63) and Irymple’s Josh Tankard (24) leading the successful run chase as Sunraysia finished their innings at 6/165.
Earlier West’s Josh Driscoll took 4/12 and Gol Gol’s Harvy Vandenberg 2/10 to help dismiss Swan Hill for 115.
The home side got one back on day two winning by 65 runs, with Vandenberg (2/10) and Irymple’s Tom Connelly (2/19) bowling well as Swan Hill finished on 6/141.
In reply, Sunraysia were all out for 76, Vandenberg top scoring with 31.
They finished on a high with a five-wicket win, including another three wickets for Vandenberg and an opening stand between Driscoll (48 not out) and West’s Cooper Penny (40).
West’s Rhett Wescombe had a strong opening day for Sunraysia’s under 13s campaign, scoring 66 and taking 2/9 in a four-wicket win.
Gol Gol’s Cooper McDowell (3/8) and Point’s Max Marks (21 not out) also impressed.
Wednesday saw a three-wicket win for Sunraysia with an important late-order knock from Wescombe, who retired not out on 31, helping them across the line.
McDowell (3/8), Merbein’s James Brice (2/7) and Point’s Tyler Sleep (2/23) helped dismiss Swan Hill for 121.
Swan Hill won the final match by four wickets, chasing down 88.
