MURRABIT continued their good form with a hard-fought two-wicket win over a gallant Swan Hill at the weekend.
The Blues’ second consecutive victory put them just one win outside the top four after five rounds.
Electing to bat, Swan Hill got away to a brisk start, Lachlan Edwards (65) and Jacob Hatcher (55) opening up with a 101-run partnership, before Leigh Sobotnicki dismissed Edwards.
Ammar Khalid (28) helped add another 52 runs for the second wicket.
As has often been the case in the opening rounds, the Swans’ middle order failed to fire, losing 7/23 from the final seven overs of their innings and leaving the door ajar.
Kye McKerrow led the way for the Blues with the ball, taking 3/13, while Kade Watts and Clay Watts both claimed two wickets each.
Murrabit’s run chase got off to a shaky start, with Tim Millard (45) the only batsman in the top seven to reach double figures, before his departure left the visitors reeling at 7/89.
The was until Kade Watts (59 not out) and Archer McKnight (25) produced a 77-run eighth-wicket partnership to rescue the innings.
While McKnight departed within sight of victory, Watts steered Murrabit home, continuing Swan Hill’s winless start.
WOORINEN v ULTIMA-TUF
WOORINEN are back in contention for the Kookaburra Cup final after accounting for Ultima-TUF by 87 runs on Saturday.
The home side were in control from start to finish, posting a mammoth target of 266 from 37 overs, before restricting the Roodogs to 6/179, to move back inside the top four.
In a dominant batting display, four Tigers passed 30, including Stefan Mangiameli (72), Dean Morpeth (60), Mitch Uhlhorn (33) and Connor Fletcher (32).
Cassidy Sibley was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/34 from his eight overs.
In reply, an almost run-a-ball 75 from veteran Kyle Symons kept Ultima-TUF in the match, but the massive total was always going to prove too much.
Opening bowler Smit Patel did the bulk of the damage, claiming 5/18 from his eight overs, including four maidens.
Charlie Kingwill (35) provided strong support with the bat for Symons, however, the Roodogs find themselves winless after the first five rounds.
