By ‘One Short’

Swifts-Great Western sits unchallenged at the top of the Grampians Cricket Association ladder after defeating previously unbeaten Pomonal by 96 runs, in round seven of the competition. 

The Combine welcomed back Sam Cocks, with Ballarat Cricket washed out on Saturday. 

Electing to bat first, Cocks contributed 89 runs. Others to contribute to the score of 7-223 were Tom Eckel, 36, and Wil Clough, 25. 

The Tigers replied with 9-127, mainly due to 65 from Tyler Cronin. 

Best of the Combine bowlers was Brad Carter with 3-17. 

Halls Gap 2 recorded its best win for some time, defeating Chalambar by 14 runs in a high-scoring match. 

Batting first, the Gappers, bolstered by half centuries from Max McMahon, Josh Lieth and Adam McCormach, reached 9-240. 

Best of the Chally bowlers were Grant Le Poideven and Justin Barbieri with three each. 

Chally’s innings was built around 82 from opener Michael Long, but fell short on 9-226. 

McMahon and McCormack completed fine games with three wickets each. 

Combine 2 recorded its first win against Rhymston 2 in a low-scoring affair at Great Western, where the visitors elected to bat and were dismissed in 25 overs thanks to Marc Collins’ 4-17 and Harvey Evans’ 3-23. The top Rhymston scorer was Dan Taylor with 31. 

Led by Craig Marrow, 35, the Combine took 37 overs to reach the total. 

The best Rhymston bowler was Matt Dean with 3-15. 

The match between St Andrews and Halls Gap was cancelled due to wet weather.

The number one match in round eight is between Pomonal and Chally at Pomonal. 

Both teams suffered losses in the last round and will be anxious to return to the winners’ list – Pomonal, to keep in touch with the leaders and Chally to qualify for A Grade, so a keen contest is assured. 

Another match with ramifications is between Rhymston 1 and Gappers 1, with both sides with the same form guide, a win to either team is on the cards. 

St Andrews takes on Rhymston 2 and having missed the last two matches, will be keen to defeat Rhymston to cement their top ranking. 

The remaining match is between Gappers 2 and Combine 2 and if the Gappers can replicate last round’s form, will start favourites.

Round seven results: Swifts-Great Western 7-223 d Pomonal 9-127; Halls Gap 2 9-240 d Chalambar 8-226; Swifts-Great Western 2 7-87 d Rhymney-Moyston 1 10-81, St Andrews drew with Halls Gap 1.

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