Belvoir’s Cameron McCormack has taken over the mantle of the club’s leading paceman from sidelined captain Matt Jaensch.

Jaensch hasn’t played since late November due to a back injury.

McCormack has been superb in the past three rounds, claiming 13 wickets at 10.

He’d taken only six wickets prior to that.

“We had a very young bowling attack, he’s the older head there and he’s stood up,” Zac Simmonds said.

BIZARRE START

East Albury’s hopes of an upset against Wodonga lasted a matter of minutes.

The Crows crumbled to be 4-6, with third-gamer Aaron Grant copping a beauty from the classy Tim Kennedy.

“The batsman left it and it took out his leg stump,” paceman Byron Hales said.

“That was a little bit bizarre, I don’t know if it swung a lot.”

Hales then claimed coach Dylan Weeding, who also let the ball go and lost his off-stump.

Dom Blampied and Sean Barrett shared a 74-run stand – half the 148-run total.

BEST TAILENDER?

New City’s import Sam Grant could well be the best lower-order batsman.

Grant has made two half-centuries, at number 10 and 11.

He made 58 in a 75-run final wicket partnership with Tyler Roberson against Tallangatta’s classy attack.

“When we’re in a bit of strife, he’s someone you can rely on,” coach Nick McDonald said.

“We kept him down a bit this week and it paid off for us luckily.”

The Englishman put the Bushies’ Dilhara Lokuhettige on the roof of the clubrooms.

YOUNG GUNS

St Patrick’s inability to take wickets has cost it any chance of playing finals.

The Patties have taken 84 and conceded the second highest amount of runs.

In the first 12 rounds, St Pat’s only bowled out New City and Raiders, but it’s managed to knock over Tallangatta (129), East Albury (239) and Albury (152).

Will Keighran claimed 5-31, while teenagers Pat Parnell (1-16) and Ben Jones (0-18) were miserly.

“It was really pleasing that those three young boys had a good day together,” coach James Kreutzberger said.

BOWLERS WANTED

Raiders will be looking for pacemen over winter.

The wooden spooners have claimed only 77 wickets and conceded 2410 runs.

Lavington had an outright win, and the minor premiership, on its agenda when sending Raiders in.

“Yeah, we’re chasing maximum points,” coach Robbie Mackinlay said.

“The first two hours of their batting was really, really good, they applied themselves against really good bowling.”

Raiders battled to 5-89, but then lost 5-9, including three wickets in four balls.

WORRYING SIGNS

East Albury and North Albury will need a strong final round performance with the bat for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it could dictate whether they play finals and, if they do make it, they’ll need some confidence with the willow.

The Crows lasted only 58.1 overs against Wodonga, while North faced 67.1 against Belvoir.

North also lasted only 42.3 against Tallangatta in the previous round’s first innings.

Now is not the time to get the batting yips, with North home to Wodonga, while the Crows host Tallangatta.