A sensational century from Simon Mackie has seen Coleambally bounce back from a loss in GDCA second grade at Collina last weekend.
The game could not have gotten off to a worse start for Coly as they lost Shane Taylor (0) and James Lyell (0). who both fell to the bowling of Craig Tilston (2-17) while Greg Collins (3-28) took the wicket of Mitchell Wiseman (0).
It left Coly in a precarious position at 3-6 and the Diggers could taste blood with a small chase on their minds.
Things changed for the away side when the third wicket brought Mackie to the crease, where he combined with opener Michael Hodgson (39).
The pair knuckled down and took to the task of making sure their side could compile a dependable total.
It was another 114 runs before Diggers could finally break the partnership when Hodgson was stumped by Brett Owen off the bowling of Trevor Richards (3-27). The wickets started to tumble again as Brett Burton (1) and Tim Haynes (0) fell to the bowling of Neil Casey (2-28).
Mackie finally fell to the bowling of Richards but not before he compiled an innings of 101, which included 11 fours and four maximums.
Coly’s lower order attempted to add to the total with Josh Fattore ending up with the third highest score with 12, with other contributions from Luke Roberts (5), Nabeel Bhatti (2) and Tom Fuller (4).
That pushed Coly towards a total 174.
Diggers found it just as difficult to get a start as the Coleambally bowling attack asserted some dominance.
Luke Roberts (2-21) took the wickets of Mark Favell (8) and John Moran (4). The fall of the first wicket brought Richards to the crease. He was the only batsman to post more than 10 runs with a resolute 57.
No other Diggers’ batman could stick around with Richards as Owen (4) fell to the bowling of Fattore (1-14).
Fuller was instrumental for Coleambally with the ball, ending the day with 3-27 off his eight overs.
Those wickets included the key middle-order batsmen Tilston (8), John Power (8) and Casey (1).
Mackie returned to centre stage to take the final two wickets of Sean O’Rourke (6) and Greg Collins (0).
His man-of-the-match performance secured his side’s 56-run win.
Mackie finally fell to the bowling of Richards but not before he he’d compiled an innings of 101, which included 11 fours and four maximums.
Liam Warren
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
