Barham-Koondrook v RSL
THE only unbeaten side left could well face their toughest test yet when RSL meet Barham-Koondrook for the first time.
Leading the ladder four rounds in, the Blues have secured three wins against three of the bottom four sides.
The Raiders are the other in that bottom group, but they have been more than competitive in their three matches – all against top-four teams.
Their biggest challenge will be taking all 10 wickets against a strong RSL batting line-up.
Stuart Patterson, Ryan Hinton, Paul Munro and Ben Hallam have all made half-centuries this season and are capable of turning a game off their own bat.
Barham-Koondrook will fancy their chances on their home deck, however, having bowled out both the Wandella and Nyah District already this season.
Chameera Akurugoda (eight wickets at 8.88) is among the league’s leading wicket takers.
If RSL can be kept under 150 then the home side will be right in the game, but that will be easier said than done.
Swan Hill v Murrabit
MURRABIT will travel to the home of SHDCA cricket for the first time when they take on Swan Hill.
Having claimed their first win in the league last week against Ultima-TUF, the Blues will be desperate to make it two from two.
But while the Swans are yet to get their first win this season, they have been more competitive under the leadership of Lachlan Edwards.
They have also been inconsistent, which happens with young teams.
The Swans were well in control against RSL last week at 1/91 in the 20th over, before losing their last nine wickets for 44 runs and then failing to take a wicket with the ball.
Swan Hill’s gap between their best and worst is too great, and they will need to find a way to close it.
Lachlan Edwards, Jacob Hatcher and Ammar Khalid are class batsmen at the top of the order, but get through them and their lack of depth with the bat can be exposed.
Murrabit have no such issues, Toby Gray, Leigh Sobotnicki and Nathan Henry all more than capable of going big with the bat in the top and middle order.
If Swan Hill can put some pressure on the Blues by posting a big score, an upset could well be on the cards – but it will have to come from the bat of Edwards or Hatcher.
Woorinen v Ultima-TUF
HAVING started the season with three straight losses, Ultima-TUF have a lot to play for against Woorinen if they are to end their finals drought.
The Roodogs would be bitterly disappointed with their performance against Murrabit last Saturday, bowled out inside 30 overs for just 121 despite having their strongest batting line-up so far this season.
Aydan Symons and Jordan King were the only batsmen to reach double figures in a disconcerting display from a side who would have hoped to continue their improvement from past seasons.
Woorinen have also proven capable of a batting collapse this season.
The Tigers were saved by an unbeaten 55 from veteran Dean Morpeth in their last match against Swan Hill, along with a handy 30 off 21 balls from Guri Singh at the top of the order, getting them over the line eight wickets down.
The difference between Saturday’s combatants will be with the ball.
Woorinen possess more depth, having Singh, Smit Patel, Mitch Uhlhorn, Stefan Mangiameli and Darren Rushton at their disposal.
With the Tigers going into the game with a two-win, one-loss record, and on their home turf, they should get the job done.
