Lions clinical in Nondies win

Nondies batted first after winning the toss, but the early loss of Angus Donat put the host on the back foot.

The rest of the Nondies-Cohuna top order held up, led primarily by a tenacious innings from Xavier Wishart who eked out 42 from 101 deliveries at the crease.

Will O’Shea (22) and Will Ringin (29) also batted well to put N-C in reach of a competitive total.

Unfortunately, there was little wag in the tail on this occasion, with BLU cleaning out the bottom six for a total of 12 runs. Jeremy Felmingham and Luke Thompson were the main offenders with the ball.

Nondies set a respectable all out 143 from 42.3 overs, but needed a composed performance from its bowling unit if it was to restrict the Lions’ star batsmen.

Thompson (3-17) edged out Felmingham (3-20) for best figures, while Simon van Duinen and Kade Pearse also took scalps.

As is so often the case, the BLU innings was centred around a bombastic innings from captain Regis Chakabva, who logged his fourth half-century from five attempts this season.

The Lions captain moved at a blistering pace, bashing 12 total boundaries, including three sixes, on his way to 72 not out from just 43 balls.

Number three Liam Hamilton (55) was just as effective at the other end, also surpassing 50 at a strike rate of 125.

Hamilton was dismissed at the tail end of the chase, but the Lions had done more than enough, rushing to Nondies’ total in just 18.2 overs.

Outclassed by a talented batting outfit, Nondies bowlers Kyeran Ellery, Shaun Haffended and Tim Johnson shared their side’s three wickets.

The Lions (3-2) now lurk in a four-team pack behind Echuca and Rochester in the top two, while Nondies remains without points through five matches.

With two-day games returning next Saturday, BLU will have the opportunity to tie or pass Rochester as it hosts the former leader, while either Nondies or Tongala will earn their first points of the year as the two sides face off at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.