SCA Round 8 – Day 2 previews

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Coomealla Wentworth v Merbein

George Gordon Oval

Last week: Merbein 66 (25.2). Coomealla Wentworth 5d/179 (30.4). Merbein 5/37 (17).

EVENTFUL is an understatement when it comes to the opening day of this contest.

Twenty wickets fell, one innings was declared and an outright victory is potentially on the cards for Coomealla Wentworth when they return to action against Merbein.

The Magpies will resume needing 76 runs to make the Blues bat again and just five wickets in hand. Tony Trinick (22) and Samuel Longeri (zero) are at the crease.

Liam Freeman was on fire for Coomealla Wentworth, taking nine of the 15 Merbein wickets to fall, including a hat-trick in the second dig, and needs just one more for the rare 10-wicket match in the SCA.

Andrew Porker and Jay Turlan have also bowled well for the home side, while Colby Wade (55) and Justin Freeman (42) were the best of the batters.

It would take an almighty effort for the Magpies to avoid an outright result but stranger things have happened.

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Mildura East v Irymple

Mildura Sporting Precinct

Last week: Mildura East 8/264 (80).

THE grand final replay of last season has taken a while to come around, but is shaping up as a beauty.

The home side got off to a great start, setting the reigning premiers 265 for victory, mostly thanks to skipper Brad Thomas scoring his first century of the campaign.

Strong supporting half-centuries from Liam Naylor and coach Josh Berry helped East to a strong position.

Swallows strike bowler Bailey Anderson finished with 5/55, taking him to 20 scalps for the season, while Scott Steel took two of his own.

Englishman Steel will lead the charge with the bat with scores of 182 and 72 in his last two innings, however Mark Thomson and Bryson Lush are equally dangerous players in the chase.

While Naylor is mostly pegged in for his batting, he is also leading East’s bowling with 13 wickets. Spinner Jake Wright and pace bowlers Ryan Muir and Nick Dorman all have 11 each.

It shapes as a cracking final day of 2024.

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Mildura Settlers v Nichols Point

Mildura Senior College

Last week: Nichols Point 8/275 (80).

DESPITE being in fourth place on the ladder, Nichols Point are less than three points behind second-placed Mildura East, with Gol Gol sandwiched in between.

Also keeping fifth-placed Mildura West at arm’s length will be important as they look to defend 275 against Mildura Settlers.

A well-made century from Shannon Bowen, his third for the club, helped straighten the innings after a rocky start, with great support shown from Shaun Mathews (56), Dean Fulco (45) and Riley Jobson (40).

Spoils were shared across the board for the Setts bowlers with Vick Singh, Keegan Macdonald and Sam Farmer taking two each.

This run chase will be a tough ask for Setts, but captain Luke Stanbrook has been consistent with the bat, passing 30 in five of his nine innings, and Jason Morrison can take the game away from any opposition.

Spin twins Jarrod Forrester and Mathews have taken 25 wickets between them for the Point this campaign, while Brad Rozensweig has 10 scalps.

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Gol Gol v Mildura West

Alcheringa Oval

Last week: Gol Gol 227 (77.3).

MILDURA West fought back well with the ball against Gol Gol to dismiss the home side for 227, taking the last nine wickets for 82 runs.

It gives them a great platform to score what would be a massive victory heading into the new calendar year.

Again Shacaya Thomas led from the front with the bat scoring 66, well supported by Greg Beresi (38) and Wade Hancock (37) at the top of the order.

It was impressive bowling from Jasper Presswell, who has 13 wickets for the season, and captain-coach Chris Williams, who has 12, while Greg Lewis has made a habit of taking wickets late in the innings, with another 2/10.

Williams will no doubt be the main man for West when it comes to runs but Greg Solkin batted well last round, Brandon Dixon knows how to find runs, and it could be a great opportunity for a long stint at the crease for Englishman Joe Smallman.

Luke Hickey is in for his first top division match of the season but it remains to be seen how much he bowls.

Thomas leads all wicket-takers with 22 for the season, spinner Than Rajapakse has been consistent in the middle overs, while Matt Cameron and Cal Hickey are also strong wicket-takers.