REIGNING premier United notched its sixth win in a row in the Emu Valley Cricket Association after a strong finish with the ball against Maiden Gully on Saturday.
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Defending 187 at Ewing Park, the Tigers had been under the pump with the Gully – who had started the day 0-24 – solidly-placed at 5-145 and Greg Burns (37) and Dean Trew (25) both well set with a partnership of 61.
However, the Tigers rose to the challenge and the Gully faltered as Keiran Nihill (4-41) and Sam Barnes (3-32) combined to take the last five wickets and bowl Maiden Gully out for 166 as United won by 21 runs.
Alex Collins (3-32) also chipped in with three wickets for the Tigers, whose 21-run win was the same margin they beat Maiden Gully by in last year’s semi-final at Ewing Park.
The Tigers had a 10-over second innings in which they cracked a quickfire 2-108.
• Spring Gully has given its finals aspirations a boost, while inflicting a second loss in a row on Sedgwick.
The powerful Rams’ batting line-up was unable to chase down the Crows’ 264, falling 22 runs short when restricted to 9-242.
Paceman Saheed Akolade produced a lion-hearted effort for the Crows in sending down 29 overs and taking 4-72, while the in-form James Fox claimed 3-68 off 24.
The Rams had one stage been 3-172 before losing 6-24 to fall to 9-196.
Alan Friswell (42 n.o.) and No.11 Lucas Baldwin (9 n.o.) shared in an unbroken stand of 46 for the 10th wicket.
Opener Dustin Elliott top scored for the Rams with 76, striking 11 boundaries, with he and Matt Dwyer (22) putting on 72 for the first wicket.
• Emu Creek won its first game of the season – and did it in a canter by 236 runs against West Bendigo at Ken Wust Oval.
Defending a massive score of 7-376, the Emus bowled the Redbacks out for 140.
It was an even bowling performance from the Emus, who shared their wickets around as Flynn Hartigan (3-16), captain Simon Marwood (2-32), Anthony Collins (2-20) and Michael Brown (2-6) all took multiple scalps.
At one stage in their innings the Redbacks were 3-99 before they lost 7-41.
Opener Brad McHugh (44) and No.3 Rene Kerr (34) were the leading scorers for the Redbacks.
• Mandurang had to settle for first innings points after Marong offered more resistance in the second innings of their clash.
The Rangas immediately declared at 3-102 on Saturday in reply to Marong’s first innings score of 90.
However, the Panthers knuckled down in their second dig, spending 71 overs at the crease in making 143 after earlier being 4-42.
Jeremy Ross led the Panthers with a knock of 32, while the consistent James Pietromonaco (3-25) continued his fine season with the ball for the Ragas.