MILDURA West have pushed their way into the SCA first division top four with two rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.
An outright victory, combined with Nichols Point going down to Mildura East by seven wickets, saw West leapfrog the Pointers into fourth as a big four weeks lays ahead.
English bowler Jasper Presswell, who also starred in Sunraysia’s Division 3 premiership at Melbourne Country Week during the week, followed his seven wickets on day 1 with another four on day 2 for match figures of 11/48, taking him to the top of the competition wickets tally with 32.
Already leading by 75 runs after day 1, West declared their innings at 6/180, deciding to immediately put the Magpies back into bat at Chaffey Park.
After a few early wickets, young guns Angus Smith and Dillon Furze set about providing some middle order resistance with 46 and 29 respectively.
While it ensured West needed to bat again, the final seven wickets fell for 31 runs to leave the home side all out for 111, giving West a target of 37.
Presswell took 4/27, Locke Thornton 4/26 and Josh Driscoll 2/20.
Despite two wickets from spinner Smith, West made it across the line with Tim Watson hitting the winning boundary with the score at 3/40.
At Mildura Sporting Precinct, Nichols Point were already on the back foot in their contest, with East requiring just 48 more runs with nine wickets in hand.
They lost just two more wickets before passing the total, with skipper Brad Thomas recording his eighth century for the club and second of the season with an unbeaten 103 as East finished at 5/296.
The skipper’s knock takes him to 348 runs for the campaign.
Fresh from some strong performances in Sunraysia’s Country Week victory, Liam Naylor finished on 66, Regan Connell was not out on 38 and Lochie Symes finished with 26.
Point spinner Shaun Mathews was the best of the bowlers with 3/31 from an industrious 33 overs, incredibly going at less than one an over.
Meanwhile, ladder leaders Gol Gol completed a 65-run win over Mildura Settlers at Mildura Senior College.
Needing 149 to win with nine wickets in hand, Setts had the chance to knock over the NSW side for the second time this season, however despite the absence of star all-rounder Shacaya Thomas, Gol Gol dismissed them for 126.
Spinner Will Lowry, in only his second first division contest for the club, took 5/20, while improved pace bowler Jayden Brooks got some important early wickets in his 3/41.
Following on from his outstanding century for Sunraysia on Friday, Setts skipper Luke Stanbrook top scored for his side with 41.
In a 33-over second innings knock, Sheldon Calarco scored 65 not out and Kain Berryman an unbeaten 51 as Gol Gol made 2/141.
At Henshilwood Oval, an understrength Coomealla Wentworth were always up against the odds chasing the Irymple target of 394, and it proved to be the case as the Swallows wrapped up a 261-run win.
The Blues were all out for 132 with Justin Freeman top scoring with 41 and Jay Turlan adding 25.
Swallows coach Bryson Lush recorded his best figures of the season with 5/47, while Chase Stone did likewise with 4/14.
In their second dig of 7/121, Stone top scored with 33 not out while Phelan made 25.
