The Murray Valley Cricket Association Round 4 kicked off over the weekend, with Cobram Tigers A-Grade taking on rivals Katamatite at Katamatite.
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The sun was out for a warm spring day and the gentlest of breezes made for ideal conditions at Katamatite as the visitors won the toss and opened by batting.
Cobram pulled away early with impressive performances from Adam Decicco (58 from 73), vice-captain Hugh Hyde (32 from 52 deliveries), and captain Jimmy Daniel (32 from 35).
But it was a seasoned Daniel Ellis who stood out for Cobram, notching up almost a century, on 97 from 91 deliveries, before being sent packing for the sheds by Katamatite’s Ben Lukies.
Tyler Green came in at the top of the order for Katamatite but was unable to make any runs under the bowling of Cobram’s Jimmy Daniel.
Ben Lucas came on for the home side to rack up 22 from 46, before Kepler Lukies added another 31 from 56.
The home side was helped along by efforts from Ben Lukies, who almost made a half-century with 45 from 27 deliveries.
But defending a wicket against a bowling line-up like Cobram’s was never going to be a simple task for the home side.
Chase Hardwidge starred in the bowling for Cobram after he went on to claim three wickets and three maidens from seven.
Hardwidge’s efforts were helped along by Daniel, who claimed two maidens from seven overs, and Eamon Hyde, who picked up two wickets from 2.2 overs.
The weekend’s results in the A-grade see Cobram solidify their position atop the association ladder on 24 points, followed by Nathalia in second and Deniliquin in third.
Going into this weekend’s clash with fifth-place Berrigan, Cobram A-grade co-coach Lachlan Hyde said the side won’t be taking the Saints lightly.
“They’ve got some pretty good cricketers,” he said.
Hyde said there will be several players to watch out for on the day for Cobram.
“It would be good to see Dan Ellis, he’s probably one of the main ones to see continue the form he’s had.
“You’ve got Hugh [Hyde], Jimmy [Ellis], and Adam [Decicco] with the bat - they’ve had some good runs of late.
“Jeremy [Baden] and Chase [Hardwidge] with the ball, it would be good to see them continue their good form.
“[We’re looking to] continue what we’ve been doing over the last few weeks, continuing playing that good brand and consistent brand of cricket.
“And keep backing ourselves.”
In B-Grade action, a Cobram side (10-110) led by captain Adam Harwood fell to a dominant Katamatite (9-137).
Despite some smart bowling from Harwood, who claimed 3 wickets from 8, and efforts from Jamie Miller (22 from 25 deliveries), the visitors proved too strong.
Breaking their winless drought, Cobram C-grade on Sunday, November 3, took their first win of the season over Tocumwal, finishing on 6-89 to the Bloods’ 10-88 at Cobram.