NICHOLS Point overcame the absence of three key players as they finished in a strong position on day one of their two-day Sunraysia Cricket Association clash with Mildura West on Saturday.
The Pointers were without Shannon Bowen, Glen Bridson and Lewis Dichiera, but two lower-grade players stepped up to help the team post a highly competitive total of 242 from 73.2 overs.
Batting at No.5, Toby Spence-Weightman made 33 before Carmine Cavallaro came in at No.9 to crack 36 off 35 balls at Aero Ovals.
Leigh Thomson-Mathews top-scored for the Pointers with 55 before he was run out, while Kaushik Aphale made 46.
The evergreen Shane Driscoll was the main destroyer for West, taking 3/74 off 19.5 overs.
At George Gordon Oval, the ageless Tom Vadlja snared 5/20 as Coomealla Wentworth were bowled out for 192 off 76 overs.
Lower-order batsman Matt George top-scored for the home team with 63, while Luke Cullinan made 46.
Elsewhere, Merbein made 9/203 off their 80 overs against Irymple at Chaffey Park.
Hamim Miah led the way for the hosts with 41, while Bailey Anderson captured 3/24.
At Alcheringa Oval, Mildura Settlers were bowled out for 132 in 54.1 overs.
In reply, competition frontrunners Gol Gol were 4/101, thanks largely to No.3 batsman Wade Hancock, who blasted 58 from 45 balls.
Hancock’s knock included three sixes.
Meanwhile, the early weather forecast is not looking great for the resumption of play in round 11 this weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a sweltering 43 degrees on Saturday.
If it’s 42 or above, play will be called off, just as it was last Saturday.
