A loss to Nondies Cohuna and Bamawm Lockington United’s win over Moama has deprived Kyabram Fire Brigade a place in the Goulburn Murray Cricket finals.
The Flames came up 22 runs short in their run chase on Saturday after resuming at 2/37 — chasing Nondies score of 186.
Opener Miller Griffiths (25), Rob Salter (21), Jake Gascoyne (28) and Brenton Sheppard and Jackson Barnett all raised the Brigade’s hopes at stages that the Flames could pinch a win.
But the Nondies bowlers had the answers when needed.
Sheppard, who made an unbeaten 27, and Jackson Barnett added 36 for the last wicket in a fighting stand, which caused some anxious moments in the visitors’ camp.
New ball bowler Xavier Wishart was the destroyer with the ball for Nondies, taking 5/39 from 16 overs with five maidens.
Paul Newman, Brenton Campbell and Jake Gascoyne were among his victims.
Nondies’ win lifted it into second place at the expense of Moama which slipped to third after its los to BLU.
Chasing Moama’s score of 188, Zimbabwean import Regis Chakabva and Luke Thompson produced half centuries, while Josh Cairns (35) and Rathika Rajakumara’s unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 47 got their side over the line and into the finals.
— The youthful Cooma side completed a rebuilding season on a high with its first win for the season.
Defending its big score of 297, Cooma dismissed Leitchville-Gunbower for 219 to celebrate the well-deserved win.
Opener Tyler Jones led LG’s run chase, making a dashing 66 off 46 balls, while Liam Keath (40), Blake Gelletty (37), Scott Lucas (22), Josh Hawken (17) and Sam Colvin (18), kept LG in it for a long way without ever seriously threatening the big Cooma score.
Jack Norris took the bowling honours for Cooma with his 18.3 overs, including four maidens, yielding figures of 4/43.
— Rochester came up short in its clash with top team Echuca.
Resuming at 0/29 on Saturday chasing Echuca’s tidy 223, Rochester reached 152 with opener Adrian Pappin’s 27, Jesse Cuttriss (33) and Myles Wade (14), the only double figure scores recorded.
Aidan Young proved the wrecker with the ball for Echuca with his eight overs, including five maidens, reaping figures of 4/11.
This Saturday’s semi-finals sees Echuca take on Nondies Cohuna and Moama and BLU battle for spots in the season decider.