AFTER losing seven games to start the season, it appears Mildura Settlers have kicked into gear with a comprehensive win over Merbein, the club’s second in a row.
Playing away from home at Kenny Park, Settlers won the toss and elected to bat, a pivotal decision on a path to their round high score of 7/251.
Opener Jason Morrison relished the one-day format, scoring 129 runs off 92 balls, including 12 fours and six six’s.
At the other end, captain Richard Wyld rotated the strike effectively and was a steady presence, ending his day unbeaten on 55 runs.
It was a difficult day for the Merbein bowlers, who collectively gave up 6.275 runs an over.
Angus Smith scored 61 runs for the home side, but alongside others, he was unable to score quickly enough to pose a challenge to Settlers monster score.
Over at the Mildura Sporting Precinct, the match-up between Mildura East and Gol Gol was the closest of the round, 12 runs was all that separated the two sides.
With the absence of Wade Hancock, Gol Gol still managed to post a decent score of 7/192.
However, bowler Sheldon Calarco proved most important for his team, claiming an important 3/24, which disrupted East’s middle order and led Gol Gol to victory.
East’s Jayden Hunt and Hamish John Dowdy were gallant at the end of the innings but ultimately fell short.
Gol Gol remain on top of the SCA ladder, just clear of Nichols Point, who have the same amount of wins.
In a low scoring affair at John Hall Oval, Mildura West shook off a slow start and bowled exceptionally well to dispatch of Coomealla Wentworth.
West lost opener Brandon Dixon to a third ball duck, but rallied to 10/141.
At 3/68, Coomealla Wentworth were placed well to win the match but collapsed and were bowled out for 110.
Five bowlers claimed at least one wicket for West, who put on a clinic with the ball to close out the day.
Meanwhile, at Henshilwood Reserve, Nichols Points easily defeated Irymple by nine wickets.
Just three batters saw the crease for the visitors.
Opener Nick Blacker was unbeaten on 75 runs and a key contributor for his team, who chased down Irymple’s score of 139 in just 29.2 overs.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Sunday match summary
Coomealla Wentworth vs Gol Gol
Gol Gol made easy work of Coomealla Wentworth, chasing down their abysmal score of 78 in just 15.5 overs.
Callen Hickey and Matthew Cameron both claimed three wickets each for the winners.
Mildura East vs Mildura Settlers
Settlers had arguably their best win of the season against East, who batted first and were all out for 125.
Settlers’ Cooper Aldridge claimed three wickets, while Jason Morrison continued his stellar form, posting a score of 57.
Merbein vs Irymple
Merbein captain Mark East scored 66 runs, but it wasn’t enough, with no one else contributing more than ten runs.
Irymple posted a score of 9/164, which they defended, bowling out Merbein for 118.
Chase Stone took three wickets for the winners.
Nichols Point vs Mildura West
In one of the games of the season, Mildura West miraculously chased down 208 runs in 35.1 overs.
Lachlan Skinner’s (Mildura West) unbeaten 98 runs eclipsed Nick Blacker’s (Nichols Point) 96 runs in the high scoring affair at Nichols Point Reserve.
