The Murray Valley Cricket Association Division Two round 13 clash served as a potential grand final preview and it delivered.
It was Cobram that stood tall in the top of the table clash, holding off Jerilderie in a four run win.
Upon winning the toss Jerilderie sent Cobram in to bat.
The Demons had the home side on the back foot early when opener Bernie Kelly (0) was dismissed with the first ball bowled, trapped in front by Jordon Anthony (1/11 off five).
When Mark Bond (six) was caught off the bowling of Greg Lawton (1/15 off four), Jerilderie were on top of the Cobram, with the Tigers 2/23.
The Dees toiled away for the rest of the Cobram innings trying valiantly to limit their score.
At the end of the allotted 35 overs Cobram were 2/123, Daniel Cleary retiring not out on 51, John O’Sullivan remaining not out on 45.
Jerilderie’s pursuit of the modest total set by Cobram never gained momentum.
Openers Rory Knight (six) and Luke Keating (three) were dismissed cheaply, followed by Tom Marshall (two) and Anthony (one), with the visitors 4/42.
Richard Coughlan was batting along quietly until joined at the crease by Grant Smith, who upped the tempo dramatically, contributing 19 of a 20-run partnership in quick order.
Smith was next to go, caught off the bowling of Bond (2/15 off five) to see Jerilderie at 5/62 in the 22nd over.
Andy Neessen (nine) gave solid support to Coughlan before he too was sent back to the pavilion, and when the retired not outafter reaching 50 it was up to Dylan Henery and Ben Browning to take Jerilderie’s run total past Cobram.
With three overs remaining in their innings Jerilderie required 20 runs.
They scored five in the 33rd over, and eight in the 34th, leaving seven to get in the last over for a win.
Ben Browning took a quick single off the first ball, but unfortunately on the next ball Dylan Henery (12) was run out, trying for a desperate second run.
Lawton took a cheeky single from the first ball he faced, only to see Ben Browning try to win the match with a four or six, only to be clean bowled before Jerilderie’s innings finished four runs short, on 7/119.
Cobram’s most successful bowler was Bond, while Michael Brooker (1/4 off five), Jon Frankell (1/11 off five), Michael Goodson (1/12 off five) and Nick Kennedy (1/26 off three), each took a wicket.
Jerilderie will now take on fourth placed Cobram/Yarroweyah at Monash Park in the final match before the finals.
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