Rand has climbed its way to the top of the CAW Hume ladder, with former top two teams Holbrook and Osborne suffering defeats in the second-last round of matches.
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The Pigeons, extremely consistent all season, took top position after defeating Henty by 89 runs at Rand.
Again, it was on the back of an excellent batting performance led by Bryce Swift (56 no), Mitch Thomas (40) and Chris Kreutzberger (40).
The home side finished with 6/201, a score that Henty never looked like threatening. Five Henty bats made double figures, with Steve Zweck best with (33 no).
Daniel Lieschke was superb with the ball, taking 2/11 off eight overs. Rand face off in the final round to in-form Culcairn in a possible finals preview.
Walbundrie knocked Holbrook out of top spot with a six-wicket win at Walbundrie as the bowlers dominated the early part of the game.
After Holbrook were bowled out for 122, the home side were in all sorts of trouble at 4/14 before an unbeaten century stand steered Walbundrie home with three overs to spare. The Brookers – who were missing Josh Jones, Will Heriot, Andrew Mackinlay and Eddie Edlinger – tried everything to break the stand between Craig Mabon (44 no) and Jarrod Miller (61 no).
Corey McCarthy and Brayden Eddy claimed two early wickets, but some missed chances and clever batting got the Tigers home. Miller completed a wonderful match by taking three wickets, while Alex McMaster and Nathan Morton bowled tightly.
Culcairn has all but assured itself a finals spot with a big win over second-placed Osborne, beating the home side by 86 runs. Winning the toss and batting, Culcairn had one of its best days at the crease for the season posting 6/182 – a total that proved too large for the home side.
Culcairn’s Steve Brand (49), Daryl Webb (32), Norm Barlow (30) and Dylan Pumpa (20 no) got the job done. Daniel and James Kennedy took two wickets each for Osborne.
Osborne, missing representative players Ed Perryman and Luke Richardson, fell well short and were bowled out for 96.
Sam McCready (29) and Riley Collins (21) were best for Osborne, as all the Culcairn bowlers did damage. Riley Knobel (3/18) continued his good form of late.
The only way Culcairn could miss finals would be a big loss to Rand and a big Lockhart win over fifth-placed Walla in this week’s final round.
Despite TRYC winning against Lockhart, their hopes of finals are over with Culcairn’s win putting TRYC two games out of the six.
After being sent into bat at Lockhart, the Creekers wasted a great start to finish with 139 all out. At 2/108, a larger score beckoned.
Jordan Renner did the damage taking four wickets and veteran Jim Mitchell, three. Clint Renner didn’t take a wicket but conceded just seven runs in his six overs.
Aiden Ridley replicated the efforts of Renner by taking four wickets, including the key wicket of Brad McMillian for one. Mitchell top scored with 25.
Lockhart looked a great chance at 1/49 but folded badly to be dismissed for 122 with 13 deliveries left.
Walla completed a comfortable win over Burrumbuttock by six wickets after the home side won the toss batted and made 106.
Mark Taylor starred with the ball for Walla, taking 4/25. Keith Tallent (34) and Trent I’Anson (32) gave the Swans a good start but fell away after that.
Despite a remarkable collapse at the start of its run chase, when the visitors lost its first three wickets without scoring, they recovered well to finish 4/106.
Taylor completed a great double making an unbeaten (60), while skipper Tom Simmons made a quickfire (43). I’Anson with two wickets was best for Burrumbuttock.
LADDER
Rand 66 (1.51) Holbrook 66 (1.41) Walbundrie 63 (1.39) Osborne (1.25) Walla 48
Culcairn 36 (0.96) Lockhart 30 (0.78) TRYC 24 Henty 18 Burrumbuttock 6
FINAL ROUND
This Saturday:
Holbrook v Burrumbuttock
Walla v Lockhart
Henty v Walbundrie (Sunday at Walbundrie)
Culcairn v Rand
TRYC v Osborne