Coleambally representation is enjoying a successful first half of the Griffith cricket season with one round before the Christmas break.
First grade
A six-wicket win over Diggers has ensured Exies sit on top of the Griffith District Cricket Association first grade ladder heading into the mid-season break.
Last year’s wooden spooners sit three points clear of Coro, which claimed its seventh win in a row on Saturday.
Diggers batted first and moved to 27 before Exies struck.
Marc Tucker (2/12) picked up two quick wickets.
Thanks to Dom Brown (28), Diggers got back on track before youngster Connor Bock was introduced into the attack.
The quick removed Brown before taking the wicket of Scott Smith later in the over.
Mick Foster (38) and Jason Hampel (12) moved the score to 84 and a dependable total was on the cards.
After being called up from Coly second grade, Tom Fuller proceeded to rip through the Diggers’ batting lineup to claim 5/24 off 6.4 overs.
Exies made light work of the total of 113 to breeze past in the 30th over, just four wickets down.
Second grade
Coly’s second grade faced a difficult task taking on Coro in the top-of-the-table clash.
A difficult start for Coly made an victory even more unlikely after the side fell to 5/20.
Simon Mackie (47) and Nathan Jones (10) were the only batsmen to get a start for Coly as the bowling of Coro’s Jamie Bennett (5/19) proved too difficult to handle, bowling the Nomads out for 74.
Coro looked like it was going to do it easily as Brett Crooks (30) and Bennett (10) combined to put on 39 for the first wicket.
No other Coro batsmen made double figures, but their side still managed to chase down the total with two wickets in hand and nine overs to spare.
Third grade
Coly has asserted itself at the top of the table after a convincing performance over Coro last weekend.
Coly’s Cooper Smith (3/21) did some early damage dismissing the top three Coro batsmen.
Lucas Conlan (39) and Blake Argus (42) combined to get the scoreboard moving in the positive direction with a 40-run partnership.
Once Conlan fell to the bowling of Bryce Rodgers (2/10) no other batsmen hung around with Argus as Coro was bowled out for 113.
In reply, Coly got off to a flying start with Sam Breed (40) and Ryan Mannes (5) put on a 26-run partnership.
Breed then combined with Jack Cullen (20) for 50 runs before Breed fell to the bowling of Jack Hutchinson (4/19).
There was a mini-stumble but Smith (24*) returned to replicate his performance with the ball to guide the Nomads to a four-wicket victory.
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
