WITH five rounds remaining until the finals and the top four far from secure, every win will be vital in the Sunraysia Cricket Association Women’s Competition.
Mildura Settlers, Mildura West and Nichols Point Gold have distanced themselves from the pack, but with just two wins separating Gol Gol, Coomealla Wentworth, Merbein and Mildura East the race is still wide open.
Gol Gol face one of the toughest of the assignments of the group when they face ladder leaders Settlers at Alcheringa Oval on Friday, before a bye next week.
Emily and Megan Collihole have both had strong bowling seasons and while they each took just one scalp last week in their 22-run loss to Point Gold, they remain dangerous prospects.
Paige McInnes also scored a well made unbeaten 30 and Abby Collihole 23 during the chase.
While the Setts bowling unit didn’t get many breakthroughs in their seven-wicket win over Nichols Point Green last week, their batting remains a real strength.
Sarah Telfer top scored with 37 not out in the run chase, while Shania McKinnon, batting further down the order, was unbeaten on 15, while Breanna Bagnall made 12.
If other results go their way Merbein could potentially jump from sixth to fourth, but they have to take down defending champions Mildura West at Chaffey Park to do so.
Despite their eight-run loss to Coomealla Wentworth last week, co-captain Michelle Griffiths led from the front with the ball taking 2/10 from her four overs.
Fellow co-captain Eden Trinick (25 not out) and Amy Cupper (25) both gave their best during the run chase which just fell short.
West, who had the bye last week, are a strong unit with Tara Martin leading their run scoring with 223, Demi Zanoni has 158 with six wickets, while Addison Bell and Sesha Achilingam have been great with the ball taking 11 and eight wickets respectively.
Just two wins separate Nichols Point Gold and Coomealla Wentworth in third and fifth respectively, meaning this contest could have a real bearing on the finals make up.
At home, Point Gold will look again to Nancy Kirirua-Gill who top scored in last week’s win with 25, making her remarkably consistent as she hasn’t dropped scored less than 20 in any of her past six innings.
Elitama Akima and Eadie Neagle were both great with the ball taking 2/11 and 2/19 respectively.
In the Blues important win over the Magpies, star bat Katelin Kemp again retired at 40, but opening partner Megan Johnston did likewise in a great anchoring performance as they reached 3/96.
Kemp followed up with the Blues’ only two wickets, taking 2/14, but Adrienne Fielding was economic, conceding just nine runs from her four overs.
Mildura East can still make up some ground if they can claim victory over Nichols Point Green at Mildura Sporting Precinct.
The experienced Sonia Drew led from the front with bat retiring at 40, while opening partner Nikita Whitford scored in their innings of 4/85 during their win.
Sienna Charles has continued her impressive run with ball taking 3/9 from four overs, with Kiera Ross also claiming 2/6.
Sherri Hamence was Green’s best with the bat making 21 in their innings of 3/76, while Gypsy Gange, Tamara Hamence and Isabell Allomes each took wickets.
Irymple have the bye.
