SUNRAYSIA women’s cricket action returns on Friday night.
The round 12 fixtures will be the first in over a month following the festive break, and with matches remaining before finals, the top four is still well and truly up for grabs.
Coomealla Wentworth and Merbein are both just one win outside the top four, but one is likely to be in the box seat to make a finals push after they collide at George Gordon Oval.
The Blues have reigning MVP Katelin Kemp in their midst and another big score from her can put them into a strong position.
Kemp is second on the runs table with 291 at an average of just under 98, while Tauta Rangirua has also proved important with the ball leading her side with seven wickets.
For the Magpies, opening bat Amy Cupper was in superb touch before the break with 202 runs at 40, while young co-captain Eden Trinick had a great all-round start to the season with six wickets and 131 runs.
For whoever wins, the result of the contest between fourth-placed Gol Gol and third-placed Nichols Point Gold at Alcheringa Oval will have a bearing on if they can join the top four.
The hosts are only one win behind the visitors, who in turn are just one win in arrears of second-placed Mildura Settlers.
Gol Gol’s Collihole crew – Megan, Emily and Abby – have all been in fine form this campaign.
Emily is equal leader in the wicket tally with 11, Megan has nine scalps and 150 runs, and Abby eight wickets to go with 169 runs.
Nancy Kirirua-Gill is leading the batting for the Gold side with 142 runs, well supported by young gun Eadie Neagle (128), while Tatiana Kirirua-Gill has 10 wickets, second best in the competition, including 3/10 in the Nichols Point derby before Christmas.
With ladder leaders Mildura West scheduled for the bye, Mildura Settlers can draw level on points and possibly overtake their adversaries with victory over Nichols Point Green at Mildura Senior College.
Setts have one of the stronger batting line-ups in the competition led by league leader Shania McKinnion (311 runs), Sarah Telfer (241) and Ella Dingwall (145), and they have a strong spread of wicket takers in the bowling unit.
While runs have been hard to come by for ninth-placed Green, Sherri Hamence and captain Gypsy Gange have both been good with the ball with seven and six wickets respectively.
Finally, eighth-placed Mildura East host seventh-placed Irymple at Mildura Sporting Precinct.
East will look to Sonia Drew (113 runs) to lead the scoring while Caitlin Finch, Taya Higgins and Sienna Charles have all been impressive with the ball for six wickets.
The Swallows unfortunately forfeited their final game before Christmas but will hope to be back in action with Maya McGregor looking to add to her 11 wickets, while Airlei Taylor and Jo Wood have been solid with the bat.
