Lucindale has staked a claim to win the inaugural Dale Bateman Memorial Premiership Shield when the Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association matches resumed on Saturday after the customary break for the festive season.
Played at Lucindale, the Roos lowered the colours of the Millicent Black Hats who are both the reigning premiers and the ladder leaders.
The visitors had to chase down the ultra-competitive tally of 205 with three wickets in hand but, more importantly, with a mere two balls remaining.
Played in extreme heat, the Millicent Black Hats had four major contributors among their batsmen.
They were top-scorer Ellis Cushion with an undefeated 56 along with Jacob Todd (38), Teej Lawlor (27) and Cambell Hateley (23).
Cushion has a liking for the Lucindale attack as he belted 67 at their previous meeting on November 2 at Norm Facey Oval.
The wickets were shared among the home team bowlers with the best figures coming from Nathan James with 2/21 off six overs.
After two hours in the field, the odds were stacked against Lucindale but they stuck to their task.
Shane McGurk and T. Fisher both scored 55 with the latter not out at the end.
Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association president Michael McGurk was under pressure as he made a golden duck in his pre-Christmas innings. He rose to the challenge and made 27 invaluable runs.
The pick of the bowlers was teen Ryder Lindner with 3/29. It capped off a big week for the 15-year-old.
He was the vice-captain of the winning Mount Gambier Cricket Association team at the Horsham under 15 Country Week Carnival.
Lindner posted a career-high of 89 at the Mallee city and was named player of the carnival. Naracoorte Townies 4/99 defeated Kingston 10/98 The seaside meeting of the two bottom-placed teams still managed to produce some entertaining cricket.
Kingston occupies the lowest rung on the premiership table and will remain there due to the six-wicket loss.
The Naracoorte Townies won the toss but invited the home team to bat.
Such a decision looked foolish when Callum Paige (21) and Mark Collins (23) put on 45 for the first wicket.
However, the bowling of Takbirullah Ahmadi changed the course of the contest as he dismissed Paige and Collins and then the next two top order batsmen as well. His remarkable figures were 4/9 off eight overs.
Kingston crashed from 0/45 to all out for 98 with the only resistance coming from Brett Holmes with 19 not out.
Headed by opener Matt Smith with 47, the Naracoorte Townies reached the target in less than 25 overs and with six wickets in hand. Naracoorte Warriors versus Rendelsham No play was possible in this match owing to the extreme heat and it was abandoned mid-morning in line with the policy of the Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association.
This takes into account the forecast maximum temperature at the town where the game is being played.
The decision worked in favour of Rendelsham as two key players were unavailable owing to a bucks party at Lake George.
