THRILLING wins for California Gully and Spring Gully by a combined three runs highlighted Saturday's return of the Emu Valley Cricket Association.
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California Gully staved off a challenge from Axe Creek to break through for its first win of the season, scraping over the line by two runs at Longlea.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Cobras' score of 9-196 off their 40 overs just proved to be enough.
Skipper Tas Fitzallen made a welcome return from a calf injury for the Cobras to make 53 off just 50 balls batting at No.5, while California Gully also got valuable contributions at the top of the order from No.3 Travis Nolan (39) and opener Jordan Knight (34).
All six Axe Creek bowlers used took a wicket, with the opening pair of Jakk Trenfield (3-38) and Jesse Trenfield (2-23) combining for five scalps.
Hunting their third victory of the season the Cowboys had been 4-148 in reply and needing 49 runs with six wickets in hand entering the last 10 overs.
But despite a valiant effort from opener Joel Bish, it would prove a task just beyond the Cowboys, who were dismissed for 194 with three balls left in their innings.
Bish was superb for the Cowboys, with the opener scoring 107 - the first century by an Axe Creek player since the team's return to division one in 2019-20.
Bish, who faced 103 balls, batted through until he was the last player dismissed when he played on and was bowled by the Cobras' James Austin (2-40).
Bish cracked 13 boundaries and one six in his gallant innings, with Ash Dixon (27) and Shiran Kulathunga (10) the only other players who scored in double figures.
Zac Knapman (4-33) was the leading wicket-taker for the Cobras, who in a tight game didn't help their cause by bowling 20 wides.
"It was really good for the club to get a win on the board and get the monkey off the back," victorious Cobras' skipper Fitzallen said.
"Axe Creek was going well in their chase, but we were able to take a wicket every five overs or so to keep the pressure on Bishy, who batted really well."
* Spring Gully pipped Emu Creek by the barest of margins in a game where more than 500 runs were scored at J.G. Edwards Oval.
Spring Gully posted 4-252 batting first before the reigning premier Emus - striving to fight their way into the top four - fell agonisingly short with 8-251 in reply.
With the Crows' Jesse Marciano (3-51) bowling to Cameron Moore the Emus had needed three off the final delivery to win or two to tie.
But the Emus could only score one bye off the last ball to fall one run short.
The clash featured three half-centuries scored, with Spring Gully's Lachlan Brook (91) and Rhys Webb (84 off just 54) putting on 111 for the third wicket, while the Emus' Tyrone Downie showed his class with a brisk 68 off 49.
"It was a fantastic game of cricket... we were coming off five weeks without having played and not a lot of training either, so it was good to get back into it with a win," Spring Gully captain Alex Sutton said.
* Top side Mandurang picked up from where it left off pre-Christmas with a comfortable 75-run win over West Bendigo at home.
With James Pietromonaco (3-5) and stand-in captain Jeremy Hancock (3-8) both taking three wickets, the Rangas' decision to bowl first paid dividends as the Redbacks were skittled for just 95 in the 28th over.
Having one stage been 4-77 the Redbacks' last six wickets tumbled for just 18 runs starting with the key dismissal of top-scorer Bodee Scullie (30), who captained the side.
The Rangas replied with 170, with eight players scoring in double figures, but no-one cashing in on a start with wicket-keeper Mitchell Roberts' 26 their top score.
The eighth bowler used, Zac Makeham (3-29) picked up three late wickets for the Redbacks.
* United notched a 32-run win over Sedgwick.
Chasing the Rams' 5-176 at Ewing Park, opener Jayde Mullane in his first division one game for the season cracked 93 and hard-hitting skipper Harry Whittle plundered 61 off just 36 balls to help the Tigers to 7-208.
Mullane's 91 featured 13 boundaries and one six and continued his strong form from division two.
Earlier, captain Jordan Ilsley (61) and veteran Scott McKenzie (40) combined for more than half Sedgwick's 5-176 after the Rams had been sent in.
Inclusion Tyler James took an economical 1-11 off eight overs for the Tigers.
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