Travelling to Barooga Recreation Reserve, the Tigers won the toss and elected to bat, and just as they have dominated the early part of the season, set about dominating the early stages of the contest with bat in hand.
Openers Daniel Ellis and Bodey Webb settled in for a 28-over stay together at the crease, with Ellis bringing up his half-century as the pair notched 82 runs in a fine opening stand; however, Riley Gow soon spoiled the party, snaring Barooga’s first wicket of the afternoon to dismiss Webb for 30.
Skipper Hugh Hyde was the new man at the crease for Cobram, but he wouldn’t last long, dismissed in the next over for a duck after facing six deliveries off the bowling of Hawks skipper Riyaad Henry.
Set batter Ellis succumbed to the pressure, too, departing for a well-made 52 as Gow struck once again to make it three wickets in three overs for Barooga. The Tigers suddenly finding themselves at 3-85 after cruising at 0-82.
Shaun Downie and Adam DeCicco joined forces in the middle, though, and quickly corrected course for the Tigers, adding 72 runs in 18 overs; however, they too fell victim to the Gow-Henry assault in consecutive overs, with the Barooga skipper sneaking one past Downie’s edge to have him stumped for 45, while Gow claimed the wicket of DeCicco (28) six balls later without the score being advanced, as Cobram sunk to 5-157.
Lachlan Hyde and Tyron Baden formed another fresh partnership at the crease for Cobram, and like those before them, managed to add some runs to the scoreboard, compiling 35 together, and while they didn’t go in consecutive overs, they did fall to Gow and Henry, as the Hawks duo continued to bowl their side into the contest.
Hyde departed for 11, leaving Cobram six down with 192 runs on the board, and while Baden had looked solid during his knock of 34, dragging the Tigers beyond the 200-run mark, he was caught and bowled by the Barooga skipper, leaving the visitors at 7-204.
The formidable bowling by the Hawks duo, who combined to send down more than 60 overs, continued into the tail, which was cleaned up quickly, claiming the final four wickets for only 12 runs to bowl the visitors out for 216, giving their side every chance of a big victory over the ladder leaders.
Fittingly, both Gow (5-58) and Henry (5-121) ended the afternoon with five-wicket hauls; however, the day wasn’t done just yet, as Barooga would still have to negotiate a tricky eight-over period before stumps.
For all his heroics with the ball, Gow faltered with the bat, as Jeremy Baden landed a Cobram counterpunch late in the day to have the Hawks one wicket down before stumps, and while Murphy Stephens and Henry survived without further loss, it is all set for a mammoth second day this Saturday.
Play will resume with Barooga at 1-27, with Stephens unbeaten on 13 and Henry on 8, requiring a further 190 runs for victory, while Cobram needs nine wickets to continue its winning streak.
Elsewhere, Katamatite is tantalisingly close to wrapping up points against Katunga at Katunga Recreation Reserve, posting a total of 210 off the back of half centuries to Ben Lukies (82) and Ewan Wilson (51), before Archie Daniel (3-15) led the charge with the ball, tearing through the home side’s batting lineup to have Katunga on the ropes at 8-56 by stumps.
In the fixture between Deniliquin and Nathalia at Nathalia Showgrounds, a well-made 61 from Rhino Harry Hillier helped the visitors to a total of 166 before they were bowled out, with Nathalia’s Scotty Morris nabbing 5-61, although the home side was unable to survive the eight overs they faced before stumps without loss, as Deniliquin’s Rory Bartlett dismissed opener Jason McKenna to leave Nathalia at 1-27.
