Having bowled Katamatite out for 134 on day one of its round eight clash, Cobram faced 20 overs to be 2-58 at stumps, resuming on day two with Bodey Webb and Jimmy Daniel at the crease, unbeaten on 23 and one, respectively, and needing 77 runs for first innings points.
Day two started disastrously, however, as Webb faced only two balls before he found himself back in the pavilion, leaving Cobram at 3-58 and bringing Hugh Hyde out to the middle.
It proved to be no issue for the reigning premier, though, as the new partnership combined to safely tick off the 77 runs remaining, reaching the 135 runs required for first innings points with seven wickets in hand.
All up, the duo would add 87 runs before Hyde fell for 43, leaving Cobram at 4-145, which soon became 5-152 as Ewan Wilson claimed his third scalp of the innings for Katamatite, removing Adam De Cicco for seven.
Daniel continued to bat on unfazed, however, entering the 80s as Cobram’s first innings lead continued to grow, with the Tigers reaching 6-221 following the removal of Eamon Hyde (2), bringing Tyron Baden to the crease.
It would heartbreak for Daniel, however, as he was the next wicket to fall just five runs short of a century after anchoring the Cobram innings and securing points for his side, departing for 95 from 173 deliveries as Cobram slumped to 7-240.
Baden continued at the crease for another 30 overs alongside the tail, bringing up his century in the penultimate over of the day to eventually finish unbeaten on 101, as Cobram posted a total of 9-364 from 100 overs.
The result ensured the Tigers remained atop the A grade ladder with a 6-1 record; however, Nathalia’s brutal victory over Tocumwal has ensured the pressure remains on at the top.
Having made its way to 6-200 at stumps after bowling the Bloods out for 85 on day one at Nathalia Showgrounds, the home side faced only nine balls on day two, adding nine runs and losing two wickets before declaring at 8-209 as it chased an outright victory.
Wickets to Ash Quinn and Dylan Cunningham in each of the first two overs immediately put Nathalia on the path to extra points, leaving Tocumwal two wickets down without a run on the board, still needing 125 runs to avoid an outright innings defeat.
Cunningham struck again as the Bloods slumped to 3-8 in the eighth over, and while they managed to steady slightly, four wickets to Archie Congues in the space of three overs left Nathalia on the cusp of victory as Tocumwal found itself eight wickets down after 22 overs.
The end would come in the 31st over, as Nathalia claimed the 10th wicket with Tocumwal again bowled out for 85, handing the home side a mammoth outright win by an innings and 39 runs.
It ensures Nathalia keeps the pressure on Cobram at the top, just 4.55 points behind and with a superior net run rate to the reigning premier.
The two sides have gone clear of third-placed Deniliquin, with the Rhinos slumping to a 75-run loss against Katunga at Katunga Recreation Reserve.
Entering day two at 4-70 in response to Katunga’s first innings effort of 10-224, Deniliquin needed a spark in the middle order if it was to reignite the chase; however, it was one that never came.
The Rhinos added 79 runs on day two before being bowled out for 149, handing Katunga the win and losing touch with the top two on the ladder, now nearly 10 points behind second-placed Nathalia while the gap to fourth-placed Katunga has narrowed to 2.45 points.
Round nine this weekend will see more red ball cricket, with Barooga to take on Tocumwal at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve for day one of their two-day clash, Cobram will host Katunga at Cobram Showgrounds, and Deniliquin will welcome Katamatite at Memorial Park, while Nathalia has the bye.
