THE district’s two best one-day cricket sides will come face-to-face in a showdown that will have large implications after the Christmas break.
The Swan Hill and District Cricket Association’s Kookaburra Cup’s top two sides, St Mary’s Tyntynder and Swan Hill, will fight out to keep their 40 over winning streaks intact at Ken Harrison Reserve.
St Mary’s Tyntynder are still sitting on top of the ladder overall, with sides yet to put any pressure on the talented, young side.
Last week, they exacted more revenge on premiers RSL with a huge victory to put them clear on top of the ladder by ten points, with Nyah following behind in second.
The fourth-placed Swan Hill side have been good across one-day matches, but have not faired as well when the game extends over two weekends.
The only losses the side has suffered this season have both been in two-day affairs.
Swan Hill’s form may also be down after an inspired Woorinen took it to them last week, almost holding on for an unlikely victory.
The last match these sides played was a two-day match up with St Mary’s Tyntynder taking home the points.
Swan Hill got in to bat first and made a respectable total of 107 — although they were bowled all out off just 52 overs.
When St Mary’s Tyntynder found their way in to bat, the tournament favourites were able to rack up 138 runs to push themselves ahead of Swan Hill, but they were bowled all out off just 47 overs.
With good bowling from both sides, it was St Mary’s Tyntynder’s Matt Smith who tore Swan Hill apart, taking four wickets and conceding 38 runs off just ten overs.
On the other side, Swan Hill’s Mark Thomson took four wickets of his own, picked up five maidens and conceded 73 runs off 22.5 overs.
The good spell got his side on the front foot, but ultimately they were unable to hit the lead.
If Swan Hill is able to upset the ladder-leading St Mary’s Tyntynder on Saturday, it could open the competition to Nyah District, RSL and of course Swan Hill, to make a challenge for the top spot after the Christmas break.
