Textbook: Rochester’s Joel Bunce crunches a drive through the cover region on his way to a half-century. Photos: Bruce Povey
Tongala and Rochester are locked in an enthralling battle at stumps on day one of their two-day Goulburn Murray Cricket clash, with neither side able to take a definitive advantage.
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With the game being played at Tongala Recreation Reserve, the home side won the toss and opted to bowl and was off to a flying start when captain Alex Williams (2-26) removed Rochester opener Brandon Byrne for a three-ball duck.
Serious pace: Lachlan Caldwell claimed 4-33 as Tongala tore through Rochester’s batting line-up.
Joel Bunce joined the returning Sean Williams at the crease and the two set about compiling a solid total, with Williams putting together a hard-earned 38 before he was dismissed by Oscar McKeown (1-25).
Tongala capitalised on a new batsman at the crease, with Angus Martin (18) and then Jesse Cuttriss (21) making short cameos, before Travis Johnstone (2-7) sent Joe Hamilton packing for a golden duck as Tongala started to fire.
Mine: Jessie Johnstone hangs on to a catch to remove Rochester’s Sean Williams.
Lachlan Caldwell cleaned up the tail, taking 4-33 including the all-important wicket of Bunce, who made a superb 50 from 162 deliveries as he tried to save his side.
However, it wasn’t to be as Rochester was ultimately all out for 158.
After a highly successful innings with the ball, Tongala was subjected to a nasty, nervous 11 overs before stumps.
Catching practice: Rochester opener Sean Williams skies his shot, which was caught, having him dismissed for 38.
Rochester’s bowling attack was on the money, making life hard for the home batsmen, before Byrne (1-1) managed to bowl Caldwell, with his five runs coming from 36 deliveries.
Stephen Townsend ended the day 11 not-out from 34 balls, illustrating the intensity of the final few overs.
Sweet spot: Rochester’s Angus Martin makes contact with the middle of the bat.
The match is delicately poised ahead of day two, with Tongala set to resume at 1-21, 137 runs behind Rochester’s first-innings total. But it is far from being in a commanding position.
Fast start: Tongala players celebrate the wicket of Rochester opener Brandon Byrne, who was dismissed for a duck.
Meanwhile, Nondies-Cohuna batter Josh Novoselek put on a powerful display of big hitting at the weekend, smashing 14 sixes on his way to an unbeaten century.
The combine posted 5-307 against Leitchville-Gunbower thanks to Novoselek (120 not-out), Karim Marcelle (87) and Archie Sussex (70), propping Kyeran Ellery’s side up to be in a winning position.
Moama drummed up a similar score against Cooma, putting 9-301 on the board thanks to a strong showing from its top seven bats.
Hugo Bell was Cooma’s best with the ball, collecting 3-49, while Cooper and Hunter Fawcett chimed in with two wickets each.
Paul Newman continued his swashbuckling form with an unbeaten 42 as Kyabram Fire Brigade recorded 1-171 against Echuca South, supported by cameos from Brett Andison (62) and Miller Griffiths (58 not-out).
Finally, visiting Echuca is doing its utmost to defend a below-par total against Bamawm-Lockington United.
Host bowler Luke Thompson claimed 5-20 as Echuca was bowled out for 134, though the traveller bit back to have BLU at 5-41 at the end of day one.
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