TWO Sunraysia Cricket Association matches were decided by a total of three runs as their games went down to the wire on Saturday.
Reigning premiers Irymple held on to claim a thrilling one-run victory over Nichols Point away from home, while Mildura West claimed a two-run win over Coomealla Wentworth at McLeod Oval to keep their finals ambitions alive.
At Nichols Point Reserve, when Swallow Scott Steel began the final over, the home side required 13 runs with two wickets in hand to reach their target of 206.
Co-captain Dean Fulco was there on 38 but was dismissed LBW on the first ball of the over as he attempted a reverse lap shot to split the field.
Young Charlie Goldup faced a bat and scored one before Anthony Morris nailed a slog sweep for six to leave them requiring six run for the final two deliveries.
Two twos from the final deliveries ensured the home side just fell short at 9/204 and the Swallows returned to the winner’s list.
Alongside Fulco, fellow Pointers co-captain Nick Blacker batted well for 59 and Shannon Bowen made 32, while Steel claimed a team high 3/59 as Bailey Anderson, Mark Thomson and Bryson Lush took two scalps each.
Earlier, Liam Garlick and Thomson top scored for the Swallows in their innings of 7/205 with 43 and 41 respectively, while Billy Phelan, playing his first top grade match since round five due to injury, made 32 not out.
Goldup took 2/16 for the Pointers.
Meanwhile in Wentworth, after runs came from the 38th over, Coomealla Wentworth required just six runs from the final two overs with three wickets in hand to chase down their target of 179.
English import Jasper Presswell took a ridiculous three wickets for three runs in the over to earn the visitors a huge win.
Matt Ford was bowled with Presswell’s first delivery back into the attack, while Andrew Porker totalled three runs from the next three balls.
Liam Freeman was then adjudged LBW to leave the Blues with one wicket in hand, and while the next delivery was a wide, Presswell then had Marcus Parker LBW to confirm the victory.
The Englishman finished with 3/25 while Josh Driscoll impressed with 4/26 during the innings.
Blues co-coach Jay Turlan top scored with 57.
Earlier, Presswell also batted brilliantly for an unbeaten 57 while Greg Lewis scored 51, Turlan and Porker each taking two wickets for the home side.
At Alcheringa Oval, Gol Gol remain on top of the table following their 68-run win over fellow top four side Mildura East.
Another 75 runs from Shacaya Thomas and 47 from captain-coach Adam Thomson led their side to 5/209 from their 40 overs.
East’s Scottish import Liam Naylor led the bowling with 3/38 while vice-captain Nick Dorman was also impressive with 2/43.
In response East reached 7/141 from their 40 overs, with skipper Brad Thomas top scoring with 34, with Andrew Ross and Josh Bailey both making 23.
Kain Berryman’s strong bowling form continued with 3/25, taking him to 14 scalps for the season.
Meanwhile, Mildura Settlers claimed their first win since round 2 thanks to Josh Coates century, as they secured a 109-run win over Merbein at Mildura Senior College.
An unbeaten 102 from 96 deliveries from Setts number three helped his side to 3/253 from 40 overs, an innings containing 12 boundaries and four maximums.
Jason Morrison also added 51 at the top of the order, with captain Luke Stanbrook scoring 48 and Josh Goss an unbeaten 27.
In response the Magpies made 7/144 from their 40 overs, with experienced batters Mark White (34) and Carlo Longeri (33 not out) leading the scoring.
Keegan Macdonald and Brayden Wood each finished with two wickets.
