Rendelsham 10/149 def. Naracoorte Townies 9/146


The thrilling match between home team Rendelsham and the Naracoorte Townies went down to the final ball on Saturday in round seven of the Millicent Naracoorte Cricket Association.


The visitors needed 12 runs to win when strike bowler Tyson Smith was called up to bowl the 40th and final over.


In a frenetic final over, the Naracoorte Townies lost a wicket to a run out and scored nine runs.


It was not quite enough to secure their second win of the 2024/25 season while Rendelsham are safe in second spot.


Adding to the atmosphere was the presence of 150 spectators as the Rendelsham Cricket Club was hosting its customary pre-Christmas barbecue for the local community.


They included Rendelsham cricketer Jake Wight’s cousin Amanda Wight who is visiting from America where she is the US Tennis Open Celebrity Program Manager in New York.


The game was almost a forfeit as the Naracoorte Townies signalled on Friday night they were having trouble finding 11 players.


Their SOS was answered by two teens Ryder Lindner and Cruz Gibson from the ladder-leading Millicent Black Hats who were having a bye.


Lindner turned 14 in August and was the stand-out player with bat and ball.


He took four wickets in Rendelsham’s innings of 149 and then top scored with 43.


The home side had won the toss and Jacob Carger (61) and Smith (37) put on 89 for the first wicket.


Thereafter, leather dominated willow with the next nine wickets contributing only 60 runs.


The only other batsman to reach double figures was Wight with 15 as Rendelsham was dismissed for 149 in the 39th over.


The main stumbling block for the Naracoorte Townies in their run chase was Riley Redway who took four wickets and conceded only 18 runs.


Naracoorte Warriors 6/139 def. Mount Burr 10/138


The visiting Mount Burr team held the upper hand for much of their game against the Naracoorte Warriors at Wortley Oval.


Skipper Jordan Muhovics found touch again with 48 as he put on an opening partnership of 105 with his in-form deputy Jack Francis (42).


After their dismissal, the visitors collapsed to add only 33 more runs while losing 10 wickets.


The only other Mount Burr batsman to reach double figures was Nathan Muhovics with a run per ball 13.


The destroyer was Andrew Ferguson with 5/19 and a catch.


The home team looked shaky in chasing the target of 139 but Brad Redding held the innings together with a top score of 67.


Lucindale 3/112 def. Kingston 10/111


Lucindale cruised to a seven-wicket victory at home after Kingston was dismissed for 111.


Only opener Jack Sneath with 45 offered much resistance.


In reply, Lucindale lost three cheap wickets to the bowling of Ethan Murdock.


Nathan James (56) and Joshua Smith (40) could not be parted as they put on 94 for the fourth wicket.