TEAM WORKS
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Tallangatta coach Matt Armstrong says a more team-oriented approach is behind the top six surge.
The Bushies had a loss-win pattern over the first eight rounds, but finally snared successive victories with Saturday's 31-run upset over Wodonga.
"People are not worried about their own game, they're worried about what they can contribute to the team, which is great as all the one per centers are getting done," he said.
INDIAN SUMMER
Meanwhile, boom import Sahib Malhotra has headed home over Christmas.
"He's returning to India now, he's actually got engaged, so he's planning his wedding for the next two weeks and will be back for the first round after Christmas," Armstrong said.
Malhotra is now in his fourth season with the Bushies, but has played only 28 matches in all formats.
He boasts a phenomenal strike rate, posting three tons and nine half-centuries in only 22 innings.
The right-hander has 1125 runs at 70.31.
UNDERRATED
Wodonga Raiders' all-rounder Jesse Griffiths has pushed his way into the top 10 run-scorers.
The destructive batsman sits ninth with 253 at 28.11.
He's the only player in the top 10 without a half-century, but has been consistent, racking up three scores in the 40s.
Griffiths scored 42 of the team's 143 in the loss to Albury.
Nick Bracher is the club's next highest run-scorer, sitting 43rd with 129, which is a terrific effort considering he's batted number 11 in three games.
UNHERALDED
Of course, all teams have their underrated players with an Albury pair moving into the top six for wicket-takers.
English duo Louis Botes and Ross Dixon have taken 16 wickets apiece.
Dixon is also 16th with the bat, hitting 224 runs at 32.
Luke Evans is the only St Patrick's bowler in the top 24.
He's snared 14 scalps, including a best of 4-25 against New City on December 7.
And while East Albury coach Dylan Weeding can't be unheralded, given he's represented Riverina, the right-hander has bounced back with 245 runs at 35.
YOUTH POLICY
Belvoir's teenagers are starting to make an impact.
Kaiden Withers posted his highest score of 88 in the loss to East Albury.
Withers struck eight boundaries from 119 balls.
It was his second half-century after posting 50 against Tallangatta on November 30.
Withers was still playing under 14s only two years ago.
The Eagles have made it clear they will play youngsters as much as possible and with long-time star Drew Cameron set to miss the rest of the season after a knee reconstruction, they will have ample opportunity to shine.
IN OTHER NEWS
BLAZING BORELLA
North Albury's Ash Borella tops the strike rate heading into the three-week break.
Borella has plastered 368 runs from only 303 balls, striking at 121.5.
He leads the association in both boundaries (49) and sixes (six).
Borella slaughtered New City's attack, smashing 54 from just 33 balls at a 'Big Bash'-type strike rate of 163.64.
Chasing the Phoenix's 79, North's win in just 8.5 overs could well be the quickest in CAW history.
Borella stepped down recently as captain.