THE end of the home and away season for the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association is here. Rovers United Bruck will travel the hundred or so metres from their clubrooms to the Bill O’Callaghan Oval at the Barr Reserve to face the City Colts in their round 14 clash, commencing this Saturday at 1pm. The Rovers are locked in at the top of the table, 17.92 points clear of the rest of the pack, and will host their semi-final. The Hawks have been the standout team in the competition all year, having only lost one white ball game and one two-dayer all year. Interestingly ahead of finals, the only team to defeat them is Yarrawonga Mulwala. Rovers United Bruck have brought the damage with bat and ball, and there are very few occasions where someone doesn’t stand up and carry the team. Charith Perera (479 runs @ 36.85) and Jacob Schonafinger (289 @ 41.29) lead the way with the bat, while Jeremy Wilson leads the bowlers with 31 wickets for the season at 9.90 and a ridiculous economy rate of 2.29 runs conceded an over. For their part, the Colts will be looking for a way to end their season on a high. With a win-loss record of 4-7, the Colts sit one rung above the wooden spoon position While it’s been far from a runaway success of a season, there have been some exceptional performances from the side. Josh Newton sits fifth in the league run scorers’ tally, having belted 334 runs at an average of 41.75 with a century. Colts tweaker Matt Lister has taken 23 wickets with two five-wicket hauls, bowing at an average of 14.39 and a miserly economy rate of 2.85. A win against the top side would show they still have what it takes to be a force in the competition, with their mix of youth and experience holding them in great stead for future seasons. In other matches, bottom-placed Benalla Bushrangers will host Beechworth Wanderers at the Gardens Oval. Should the Wanderers win and Wangaratta lose over the next two weeks, Beechworth will snare the precious second spot on the ladder and the home semi-final it affords. Beechworth hunts as a pack with bat and ball, with their top order batters and strike bowlers causing havoc for opposition teams. Benalla will be angling for just their second win of the season, with skipper Brayden Stepien the key wicket to take early before he can be allowed to get his brand of big hitting underway. All matches begin from 1pm this Saturday, 8 March.
