The Tocumwal C-grade side came up against Katamatite on Saturday at Berrigan.
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Team members all understood the importance of a win due to the close finals race in the Murray Valley Cricket Association C-grade competition.
Tocumwal won the toss and elected to bowl on a pitch that was wet and slow.
The Tocumwal captain Lachie McDonald acknowledged that he perhaps should have chosen to bat first.
Regardless, Tocumwal started strongly with the ball with league leading wicket-takers McDonald (0/7) and Declan Cameron (1/7) keeping it really tight.
However, Tocumwal’s discipline and enthusiasm started to drop as Katamatite started to get on top.
Cooper Mangion (0/9) was very unlucky with an edge being dropped in the field, and the batsmen went on to make 50 retired not out.
Aaron Shepherd managed a breakthrough just after drinks with Katamatite 2/34.
From there, though, it was all Katamatite.
Tocumwal dropped many chances and were caught on their heels a lot.
Daniel Bennett (1/12) and Shaun Goldman (1/14) picked up the remaining wickets.
Katamatite set a goal of 4/127 off 35 overs for Tocumwal to chase, on a pitch that was doing a bit.
Tocumwal opened the batting with a scorers' nightmare of the two Meloury boys, Brandon and Bryce.
It was tough going early and Bryce was trapped in front, given LBW for seven.
Cooper Mangion was then out for four from an excellent spell of bowling by Katamatite’s captain.
Aaron Shepherd and Brandon Meloury got to work before Shepherd was caught for 13.
Lachie McDonald came to the crease and watched as Brandon brought up yet another 50.
He retired not out continuing his good form, cementing himself as the league-leading run-scorer.
Shaun Goldman then came in and got a ball that stuck in the pitch, and was caught for one.
McDonald and Declan Cameron did well before McDonald was caught in the deep for 20.
Big Kurt Chouffot rocked up to the crease and played some really nice shots for 14.
This is when it got really interesting.
Needing three runs off 12 balls, Cameron Dickins was given out LBW for one.
He was followed next ball by Daniel Bennett (whose batting average has plunged) given out LBW on his first ball.
Jess Bennett had to go out facing a hat-trick ball and needing three runs off 10 balls.
She was struck on the pad and deemed not out with two wickets in hand.
Tocumwal saw off that over, but still needed three runs off six balls.
Declan Cameron - who was being patient and not seeing a lot of strike - was then facing the opening bowler in the last over, needing three runs to win.
The first ball was a dot.
The second ball was a hard run two down to fine leg.
Scores were level.
The third ball was a dot ball.
Then, bang, three out to mid-wicket for the victory.
Cameron (11 not out) brought up the winning runs, finishing with Bennett on zero not out.
Tocumwal won by two wickets with two balls to spare.
It was a great game that came down the wire, and played in the great spirit of the game.
It was a good result for Tocumwal, which pushes their chase of a finals birth firmly into a reality now.
Tocumwal can still miss the finals with results going against them, but they can also finish the season in third place.
A bit more discipline and intent in the field, and they can make a run in the finals.
Tocumwal have a bye next week before trying to really hit their stride.
Once again, thanks to the Tocumwal helpers and also to Berrigan Cricket Club for the use of their ground.
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