With plenty on the line for the two fringe finals sides, the Goulburn Murray Cricket fixture at Northern Oval, Kyabram, began with the visitors winning the toss and batting first.
Clayton Watson’s stay at the crease lasted just five balls, Robert Salter getting Fire Brigade off to a dream start with a wicket in the opening over.
Not long later Slater added the dangerous Asantha Singappuli to his tally, removing the Swans danger man for 4.
There is plenty of batting in South, and so it proved again, Jayden Rosin digging in with Rathika Rajakumara to stem the bleeding.
However, when Rosin nicked off for 16, Echuca South was looking shaky, three down for just 42.
The middle order continued to score by committee, Rajakumara putting on 31 with Tristan Watson, before being dismissed for that same total, while Watson and Nicholas McKenner added another 32 runs for the fifth wicket.
Having done well to get past the 100 mark, McKenner and Watson departed in consecutive overs, Carver first deceiving McKenner to earn his stumping before Kaine Herbert claimed Watson’s wicket shortly after.
AK Gunathilaka was gone the next ball, creating a unique set of circumstances.
Having removed Gunathilaka with the last ball of his ninth and final over, Herbert will be sitting on a hat-trick all week, looking to complete the triple with his first ball of his next spell.
Having lost 3-2, Ben Walker and Thomas Morphett (both 17) chipped in some valuable late runs, the Swans eventually bowled out in the final over for 145.
Carver had best figures for the Flames with 3-42, while there will be plenty of anticipation for Herbert’s first ball against Leitchville-Gunbower next week after his 2-14.
In reply, the Fire Brigade innings was one with plenty of starts but no major scores, as six players made it to double figures, but the Flames could manage only 105 in total.
As he’s been known to, Paul Newman started the innings on the attack with a quick 14 before the competition leading wicket-taker, Gunathilaka, made him his first victim of the afternoon.
Fellow opener Brett Andison had already departed without score and Miller Griffiths soon followed Newman, Watson picking up both wickets as Fire Brigade were reduced to 3-18.
Bohden Learmonth (15) and captain Salter (23) held firm for a time but Watson and Gunathilaka continued to strike, and first Learmonth, then Kaine Herbert (12) and finally Salter were sent back to the sheds.
At 6-72, the writing was on the wall for the Flames, but 17 runs later, the loss of 3-2 put the nail in the coffin.
Number 11 Tom Owen (13) put in a credible effort to get his side over the 100-mark, but his side was soundly beaten, bowled out for 107.
Watson raised the game ball with a five-wicket haul, 5-17, while Gunathilaka continued to strike with regularity, taking 3-35.
South now leads a three-way tie for fourth on quotient, while Fire Brigade sits half a game back.
The Swans will be hopeful of solidifying their spot in a trip to winless Nondies-Cohuna next week, while Kyabram hosts finals hopeful Leitchville-Gunbower and could leapfrog their opposition with a win.
The Game
Echuca South 145 (Rathika Rajakumara 31, Tristan Watson 24, Riley Carver 3-42) defeated Kyabram Fire Brigade 107 (Robert Salter 23, Tristan Watson 5-17, AK Gunathilaka 3-35)
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