Pace bowler Jackson Barnett has revived Kyabram Fire Brigade’s finals chances with a 10-wicket haul against Nondies-Cohuna when Goulburn Murray Cricket’s eighth round was completed on Saturday.
Resuming at 3-10 on Saturday chasing The Flames’ first day score of 4-287 declared, Barnett stepped up to destroy the visitor for 111 in its first innings with a burst of 5-16.
He then repeated the dose in Nondies’ second innings with 5-37 off 11.3 overs to finish with a bag of 10 wickets for the game, but more importantly maximum premiership points for his side.
Fire Brigade moved from seventh to fifth on the ladder with the win.
In the first innings Barnett’s 13 overs with five maidens yielded outstanding figures of 5-16 and along with fellow opening bowler Rob Salter with 3-24 off 11.1 overs the home side rolled the visiting batters in 40 overs.
Nondies’ second innings was terminated in 32.3 overs with Barnett claiming 5-37 off 11.3 overs.
Fire Brigade has a date with third-placed Moama in a one-day clash this Saturday before a break for the festive season until January 11.
· Rochester’s first innings score of 281 proved out of reach of the Echuca South batters, skittled in their first innings for 64 in 36.3 overs.
Opening bowlers Myles Wade and Angus Martin and Will Hipwell were multiple wicket-takers for Rochester.
In its second innings, Echuca South made a better fist of it reaching 7-124 to avoid an outright loss.
Opener AK Gunathilaka again showed the way for Echuca South with a half-century.
· BLU staged a cheeky run chase in pursuit of Moama’s healthy score of 9-295, reaching 263 runs on the back of a fighting 83 from Luke Thompson, who was well supported by Liam Hamilton (26) and Noah Turner (25).
Michael Hill was Moama’s most successful bowler with 3-46 off 11 overs.
BLU’s run chase started disastrously with openers Regis Chakabva and Kade Pearse both out for one.
· Leitchville-Gunbower’s batters were able to lift in their second innings against Echuca to avoid an outright loss and hold fourth place on the ladder.
Humbled for 60 in its first innings LG posted 204 in its second innings in reply to Echuca’s first innings score of 9-185 declared.
In LBU’s second innings opener Josh O’Shea proved the stumbling block for the Echuca bowlers with a fighting 76 off 129 deliveries.
Brendan Moyle and Archer Carlile both claimed three wickets for Echuca.