The reigning premier hosted Nathalia at Cobram Showgrounds on Saturday in a first-versus-third showdown that lived up to expectations, but it was the Tigers that held on in a dramatic finish to pinch a five-run victory.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Cobram openers Daniel Ellis (25) and Bodey Webb (17) both made starts, however the Tigers found themselves at 2-47 after Webb was run out, with Lachlan Hyde and Shaun Downie brought together out in the middle.
Working in tandem, Hyde tied up one end with a patient knock, while Downie heaped pressure on the Nathalia bowlers at the other with relentless attacking, smacking 52 off 50 deliveries in a knock which included six fours and two maximums.
By the time Downie’s swashbuckling cameo came to an end, he and Hyde had stacked on 74 runs together, dragging Cobram to 3-121 in the 27th over.
It would be the most significant partnership of the innings, as Nathalia’s bowling attack found wickets at regular intervals from that point, claiming the scalp of Hyde for a well-made 45 off 91 deliveries, while Tyron and Jeremy Baden contributed scores of 18 and 16 not-out respectively in the lower order, as the home side scrapped their way to post a total of 190 after being bowled out on the final ball of the innings.
As Nathalia began its chase, the opening stanza played out in similar fashion to Cobram’s dig, with openers Ewan Congues (20) and Zander Quinn (28) both making starts, while Luke Quinn (32) combined with Gus Frostick to add a 53-run stand for the third wicket, leaving the visitors at 3-115 in the 37th over, needing 75 runs for victory.
By the end of the 40th over, it had come down to just 46 required for victory, as Frostick and Scotty Morris began to swing for the fences, however in a stunning final five overs, Cobram pounced.
Tyron Baden struck with the first ball of the 41st over, removing Frostick (38), with Lachlan Hyde backing that up to remove the dangerous Morris in the following over, reducing Nathalia to 5-158.
Baden snared another pair of scalps in Dylan Cunningham and Emile Haratbar in the 43rd over in a brilliant display of death bowling, as Nathalia crumbled to 7-168.
With nerves of steel, Hyde conceded only two runs in the penultimate over, leaving Nathalia needing 15 runs in the final over for victory.
The ball was tossed to Baden, and while Nathalia managed to hit double-digits in the final over, sharp work from the Tigers in the field saw them claim a pair of run-outs, eventually closing out the five-run victory with the visitors restricted to 9-185.
Tyron Baden was the pick of the bowlers for Cobram, snaring figures of 3-37, with Jeremy Baden (1-11), Downie (1-28) and Noah Sneddon (1-31) all claiming one wicket each in the win.
The victory ensures the Tigers go a game clear at the top with a 5-1 record, following second-placed Deniliquin’s loss to Barooga.
Hosting the Rhinos at Barooga Recreation Reserve, the Hawks were asked to bowl first after losing the toss, however managed to restrict the visitors to 8-218 from 45 overs courtesy of sharp bowling from skipper Riyaad Henry, who snared 4-26, and Jonathon Oliver, who claimed 3-46.
With 219 needed for victory, Barooga would waltz their way to the win off the back of a brilliant unbeaten century from Henry, the skipper finishing not-out on 106 and raising the bat after smacking a maximum, while sealing the win by seven wickets, with another six on the very next delivery.
Crue Lucas was also instrumental, belting 57 in a supporting role to help Barooga cement fourth place on the ladder after round seven.
In the round’s other contest, half-centuries to Samuel Boyd (51) and Jacob Bartlett (66) helped Katunga to a 103-run victory over Tocumwal at Katunga Recreation Reserve.
