Swans soar above Nondies in clash

The home side got off to a great start, with openers Clayton Holmes and Sam O’Shea constructing a 51-run first-wicket partnership.

The first fall of wicket for Nondies came in the 11th over when Holmes (22) attempted to take on Swans star all-rounder Asantha Singappuli and was stumped by Grady Smith.

O’Shea (29) effectively followed his opening partner back to the sheds just an over later, getting trapped lbw by Swans captain Jayden Rosin.

Brothers Xavier and Broden Wishart found themselves at the crease and reached the 20th over of the innings together, but Broden was on his way when he was run out for four.

Nondies keeper Will Ringin lasted just five balls before he spooned one to Rosin for a duck and gave Ben Walker his first wicket of the match.

Shaun Haffenden managed 15 before he too was caught out, this time it was Walker who hung on to the chance, produced by Ben Eade.

Nondies’ middle order were functioning as a support to Xavier Wishart, who by this point had gotten himself going; nobody embodied this as much as Blake Watts, who scored just 11 from 31 balls.

Watts was able to get all the way to the 39th over when he had a lapse in concentration, knicking one behind to Grady Smith, who hung on to the catch.

By the time Wishart (33) was run out by Rathika Rajakumara the innings was all but over, yet Aidan Konopka (14 not-out) was able to eke out a few extra runs to drag Nondies to a total of 140.

Despite not putting on the amount of runs the side would have liked, Nondies were able to at least produce something to bowl at. And bowl they did.

It took just two overs for Sam O’Shea to get the breakthrough, bowling Clayton Watson through the gate for eight.

Just six balls later and danger man Singappuli (2) was next to go, Shaun Haffenden the man knocking over the dynamic number three.

When Jayden Rosin was caught by Xavier Wishart for 15, the Swans suddenly found themselves at 3-36 and in a spot of bother.

The Swans weren’t going to die wondering, continuing to push the scoreboard forward, but it was O’Shea who provided a timely wicket for his side, this time getting Tristan Watson (4) lbw.

Luckily for the Swans, it was the strong partnership of Rajakumara and Nicholas McKenner that broke Nondies down.

The pair managed to get their team to the 20-over mark before Rajakumara (39) left the crease, another lbw befalling the Swans.

Grady Smith made one run before he was leaving the middle after being caught by Xavier Wishart.

Ben Walker was able to assist McKenner well and the two basically got their side home; Walker (25) was caught by Blake Watts just eight runs short of victory.

McKenner’s 29 not-out was the linchpin that got the Swans over the line. Someone always manages to show up for Echuca South when they need a win.

With the triumph, the Swans remain in fourth for another week and will retain pole position for that last finals spot that will be decided in a few weeks’ time.