GOULBURN MURRAY CRICKET
Tongala is still in with a chance of earning premiership points for the first time this season in Goulburn Murray Cricket’s John McMahon Shield after the first day’s play against reigning premier Echuca on Saturday.
In the first two-day game for the season the Blues bowled Echuca out for 117 off 44.2 overs and in reply reached 4-62 at stumps in the clash at Tongala.
Experienced Adam Nunn and Darin Ohlsen will resume the Tongala innings this Saturday and will be vital in the team’s run chase.
Skipper Alex Williams and Lachlan Caldwell each with three wickets and Luke Smith with two had the Echuca batters on the back foot for most of its innings.
Opener Curtis Townrow, who thumped 46 off 23 balls with eight four and one six, was an exception and Charlie Hinks with a patient 28 were the only Echuca batters to reach double figures.
· Leitchville-Gunbower, which surprised Echuca South in the previous round, struck again, bowling the battling Nondies-Cohuna out for 79 in 44.4 overs in its first innings in the game at Cohuna.
Opening bowler Marcus Stubbs and Jye Keath both picked up three wickets and Blake Gibson two for LG.
In reply LG openers Tyler Jones and Billy Hawken shared a healthy stand as the visitors reached 4-115 at stumps to get themselves in a position to press for a maximum points win this Saturday.
Hawken was 61 not out at stumps, achieved off 101 deliveries and included seven fours.
· Bamawm-Lockington United looked to be cruising at one stage, but suffered a middle and tail end batting collapse to be dismissed for 136 in 61.2 overs.
Skipper Regis Chakabva with a controlled half-century and opener Kade Pearse with a patient 38 had BLU on course for a tidy score, but after their dismissals the Echuca South attack got right on top.
AK Gunathilaka did the most damage with the ball for Echuca South with 4-19 in a controlled spell of 10 overs.
Tristan Watson and Asantha Singappuli both chipped in with two wickets to help put South, which had reached 1-36 at stumps in reply, in the box seat in the game.