Rochester came out on top in the battle of the two unbeaten sides in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s third round of games on Saturday with a commanding win over Kyabram Fire Brigade.
The Flames could muster only 129 off 42 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
After losing an early wicket Brett Andison and Miller Griffiths steadied for The Flames for a while but after their dismissals - Andison for a top score of 39 off 67 balls with five boundaries and Griffiths 14 - only Paul Newman (17) Rob Salter (17 not out) and Cohan Hooper (13) reached double figures .
In reply Rochester openers Sean Williams with a top score of 56 off 77 deliveries and Brandon Byrne with 22 laid the foundation for a winning score of 4-130 off 39.5 overs.
Jake Wright with an unbeaten 21 and Adam Ward with 8 not out were at the wicket when Rochester hit the front.
The Flames had no multiple wicket takers with Rob Salter, Tom Owen, Kaine Herbert and Wil Harrison all taking a wicket in economical spells.
Fire Brigade has a bye this Saturday.
X Tongala was bundled out for 112 in 37.3 overs by Moama with Richard Stockdale and Rishabh Kothari both claiming three wickets and Matt Saunders two.
The home side then answered with 3-130 off 20.1 overs but not before some anxious moments early when they lost their openers cheaply.
Matt Saunders with a top score of 30, Archie Teasdale 30 not out with five boundaries, and skipper Anthony McMahon (28) then took control of the Tongala attack to steer their side to a seven-wicket win.
Tongala’s innings started positively with skipper Alex Williams again the mainstay with 37 off 76 deliveries and his fellow opener Hudson Kellett contributing 18.
But after their dismissals only Steve Townsend with 11 reached double figured as the Tongala innings was terminated in 37.3 overs
In Moama’s innings only Alex Williams and Jessie Johnstone took wickets for Tongala with one each.
Tongala hosts reigning premier Echuca this Saturday.
X Star Leitchville-Gunbower opener Tyler Jones in his first appearance for the season made a century as the combine beat the visiting Echuca South in emphatic style.
Jones slammed six fours and three sixes on his way to 104 off 91 balls and got most support from Jed Brereton (24) and opener Billy Hawken (20) as LG posted an impressive 233.
South’s most successful bowlers were AK Gunathilaka with 3-34 off nine overs and
Rathika Rajakumara with 3-51 off 6.4 overs
In reply South openers Jaydin Rosin (34) and Clayton Watson (30) gave their side a positive start with a 55-run stand but several other batters failed to capitalise on starts and the team was out for 155 in 36 overs.
Jye Keath was the destroyer with 5-27 off six overs in the day’s most lethal bowling spell.
X Echuca’s score of 184 was never challenged by Nondies Cohuna which fell for 85 in 29.2 overs.
Echuca’s batting top order had its moments with two batsmen failing to get off the mark but opener Brendan Moyle’s hard-hitting 50, with 10 boundaries and Archie Carlile (23) and Anthony Dennis’s 41 enabled the their side to post a matchwinning total.
Nondies Cohuna didn’t have a batter reach 20 runs with Charlie Hinks (3-14 off 5.2 overs) and Anthony Dennis 2-11 off five overs doing the most damage with the ball for the reigning premier.