MVCA | Tyron Baden shines with Cobram century, Barooga faces tricky task

Striking 14 fours and six sixes in his impressive spell at the Cobram Showgrounds, Baden was joined by James Daniel (58) and Matteo Allen (47) as the Tigers’ highest scorers in the round six clash.

Making a total of 7-312 after 57.5 overs, Cobram declared and sent the Bloods in to bat.

This decision would prove to be a good one, with Tocumwal losing three wickets for just 52 runs.

Like his spell with the bat, James Daniel would play a key role with the ball, breaking through for the crucial first wicket of Michael Roberts.

It was not long after this that Adam De Cicco found the second dismissal of the game, with the wicket of Reilly Rennick leaving the Bloods sitting at 2-7.

A solid partnership between Tocumwal captain Andrew Lean and Tom Oliver would get the side’s innings back on track, before De Cicco’s second wicket spelt further trouble.

Heading into the second day of action on Saturday, Cobram sits well and truly in the box seat to take out the game.

In Nathalia, Barooga won the toss and elected to bat against the home side, cruising to a half-century before losing a number of wickets.

This was where coach Brendan Lewis and Mitch Richmann entered the frame, steadying the ship with some solid batting before the side was eventually bowled out for 172.

“It was very disappointing because it left us with 14 overs to bowl for the rest of the day,” Lewis said.

“Nathalia’s Liam Evans came out and attacked and we should have bowled to our strengths rather than trying to bowl to their weaknesses.”

With their opponents sitting at 0-55 with a day to play, Barooga will need to perform strongly to turn the contest around on Saturday and Lewis was already thinking about how it could be done.

“The pitch had a bit of movement off the seem and the spinners got turn on the pitch as well, so it wasn’t the easiest pitch to bat on but if we bowl our areas and get a couple of early wickets next Saturday then we’re right back in the game,” he said.

“Hopefully we can make it into a close one.”

With a number of players set to come back into the Hawks’ squad after Christmas, Lewis was confident the side could turn things around in the second half of the season.

“I think after Christmas the competition will see a completely new Barooga outfit,” he said.

“And hopefully if we get things right we can start shaking a few sides that are up the top.”

In Saturday’s other game Katamatite posted a total of 9-215 against Deniliquin in Berrigan.

This weekend all six of the A-grade sides will be back in action, with day two of the round six contests set to be battled out.