After putting on 281 in the first innings, Echuca South was pressured to produce a win or face falling out of the finals picture just a game away from the holiday break.
The Swans’ innings got off to a rocky start with opener Clayton Watson being caught by Kuldeep Lal off Angus Martin’s bowling for a single run.
Just two overs later, Martin struck again, this time crashing one into Asantha Singappuli’s stumps for two.
Kaydn Blachford and Tristan Watson were able to stabilise proceedings for Echuca South, seeing out the opening bowlers.
However, their efforts didn’t amount to much, as Myles Wade was able to trap Blachford lbw at the beginning of the 13th over for three.
Just one over later, Adam Ward claimed Tristan Watson through to the hands of Lal behind the stumps, the number four departing for three as well.
Wickets were falling in quick succession, with Jayden Rosin spooning one to William Hipwell just an over after Watson’s departure, the captain leaving the crease for five.
Rathika Rajakumara and Grady Smith were only paired for three overs before the Swans’ keeper was caught by Cale James off Hipwell’s bowling for a 15-ball duck.
Joel Stephens was able to see out almost six full overs before he too was dismissed at the hands of Hipwell after being caught by Martin for a 19-ball duck, the Swans in real trouble at 7-29.
Rajakumara and Ben Walker were able to scrounge a small partnership together before the former was caught by Jake Wright again off Hipwell’s bowling, the number six’s team high innings of 26 coming to a close.
The tail wasn’t going to die wondering, taking on the bowlers through until the 35th over when Ben Walker was caught by Martin for 13, just the second batsman to reach double digits.
The innings was brought to a close when Nathan Vanzetta (5) was caught by Oliver Williams, James claiming his first in the innings.
With the Swans being rolled for just 64 with 35 overs played, Rochy’s mouth was watering at the opportunity for second innings points and thus sent Echuca South back in for round two.
Echuca South fared much better in the second innings, with both openers passing double figures before Blachford was bowled by James on the last ball of the 19th over for 20.
Singappuli couldn’t get it going, only surviving eight deliveries and scoring six when James got his second.
James couldn’t stay away from the action, as he was able to catch a shot from Rosin to dismiss the Swans captain for 16.
Opener A.K. Gunathilaka raised the bat for a hard-earned half-century before he was ultimately bowled by a Jake Wright thunderbolt for 52.
Clayton Watson (9) and Vanzetta (0) were dismissed within two balls of one another, with the former edging behind to Lal while the latter was run out by Jesse Cuttriss for a golden duck.
Ben Walker was the last wicket to fall for Echuca South before its innings came to a close after the maximum overs in the day was reached, the Swans’ faring much better on 7-124.
This meant that despite its best efforts, Rochester was not able to claim those elusive second innings points but will remain comfortably in second heading into round nine.
The Game
Rochester 281 (Dylan Cuttriss 85, Oliver Williams 55, Ben Walker 2-36) defeated Echuca South 64 (Rathika Rajakumara 26, William Hipwell 3-9) and 7-124 (A.K. Gunathilaka 52, Cale James 2-19)
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