MILDURA East’s finals ambitions remain alive following an important four-wicket win over Coomealla Wentworth on Saturday.
East’s third victory of the Sunraysia Cricket Association season puts them just one win behind the Blues and within a game and a half of fourth-placed Mildura West.
Chasing 193, East finished at 6/209, with English import Josh Bowyer leading the way with 65, his first half-century of the season.
Brad Thomas (47), Andrew Ross (26 not out) and Connor Robinson (25) also contributed to East’s first win since round four, setting them up for an important showdown with West next round.
Matt George, Justin Freeman and Jay Turlan each took two wickets for the Blues as they look to recalibrate against Irymple.
The Swallows survived a scare from Merbein at Chaffey Park to win by three wickets, led by Tyson Giles with 59 in his first top flight match for Irymple.
Giles, a former Mildura East player, Billy Phelan (55) and skipper Mark Thomson (45) all impressed with the bat as they chased down the Magpies’ total of 9/203 to finish all out for 246.
Merbein all-rounder Tony Trinick had a strong performance with the ball, taking 4/52, while spinner Jarrod Forrester and youngster Angus Smith each grabbed two wickets.
Nichols Point continued their strong run of form subjecting West to a 114-run defeat at John Hall Oval.
Set 243 for victory, the home side were dismissed for 128, with Pointers coach Luke Coates taking 4/37 in his first bowling innings of the new year. Following his impressive batting cameo last week, Carmine Cavallaro added 3/25 with the ball.
English import Kian Burns and skipper Greg Lewis each top-scored for West with 20.
Point batted for an extra 25 overs to add another 3/35.
A barnstorming knock from Jeremy Barnes secured another monster total for ladder leaders Gol Gol, securing a six-wicket victory over Mildura Settlers.
The undefeated Gol Gol secured the required 29 runs to pass the target of 133, but they would add another double century to that total, finishing with 9/344.
Barnes put on a show scoring 87 from just 49 deliveries, a knock that included 16 boundaries and two sixes. Down the order, Jayden Brooks scored a maiden First Division half century with an unbeaten 51, while Luke Hickey (46) and Tyson Adamson (29) impressed as well.
Sam Farmer was the best of the bowlers with 4/65, Harvey Ault and Cooper Aldridge also taking two each.
