SO CLOSE
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Wodonga Raiders came within a shot of ending the association’s longest winless streak.
The visitors finished with 9-207, chasing St Patrick’s 7-211.
It was a gutsy effort from the club, which hasn’t won since the final round of the 2014-15 season.
That’s now 30 matches since it toppled Belvoir by 28 runs.
Josh Warren hit an unbeaten 168 that day in late February.
BEWARE BELVOIR
Just on Belvoir, the Eagles are starting to look ominous.
Last season’s preliminary finalist started with three straight losses, but has won its past two.
And it’s the batting depth which will worry teams.
The top eight all made double figures against East Albury, with the blockbusting John Spencer top-scoring on 47.
Mount Beauty’s district premiership player Jake Styles claimed his best figures with 3-39.
The Eagles will get a stern test of their improvement when they host Wodonga.
LOOK OUT
It was a tough day for one spectator at the Wodonga-Albury match at Les Cheesley Oval.
“Kade Brown absolutely flat-batted a six over mid-wicket and put it straight through a young girl’s windshield,” Wodonga’s Leo McGhee said.
“It was a slog-sweep, it was really flat and it just smashed it.”
Brown opened the innings and cracked a superb 81, with the two sixes and nine boundaries.
Kade Brown absolutely flat-batted a six over mid-wicket and put it straight through a young girl’s windshield. It was a slog-sweep, it was really flat and it just smashed it.
- Leo McGhee
Robbie Jackson was on the receiving end, conceding 35 runs from four overs.
ROBBIE’S REVENGE
It might have been hard work for Jackson with the ball, but he again starred with the bat.
The 42-year-old hit 92 from 100 balls, with 12 boundaries.
“He was saying during the week he’d faced 30 balls so far this season and he was just chomping at the bit to get out there,” McGhee said.
“The boys at the top have been doing the job.”
Jackson is now in his 10th season in the association after a stellar career in Wagga.
He’s racked up 5,237 runs with 14 tons, averaging an incredible 52.9.
PADDLE’S PERSISTENCE
North Albury’s Ben Paddle had a breakout performance against New City.
Paddle was still playing under 16s two years ago and made the move to provincial last season.
He batted in the lower order, finishing with a remarkable 10 not outs.
The right-hander had made just 12 runs in his first four innings, but played a patient role in compiling 52 from 100 balls against the Phoenix.
“We’ve said to him all along that we’ll back him in,” coach Matt Kirkwood said.
