After posting 144 on day one, Beard’s 5/29 left Cooma teetering at stumps on 9/72, before doubling up his first innings five-fa with 5/26 in their second innings pursuit of an outright win.
Requiring just one wicket for victory on Saturday, Kale Edwards run out of Ben Napier early in the day confirmed the first innings win, sparking a pursuit for full points.
Returning to the crease for a bat, openers Brendan Moyle and Adam Jones fell early in the second innings to Cooma’s Sam Langley, adding two scalps to last week’s five-wicket haul.
The departure of Moyle and Jones brought the Hinks brothers — Charlie (34 not-out) and Matt (54) — to the crease, with the pair posting a valuable 72-run second-wicket partnership.
Echuca’s declaration came with the score at 3/107, 174 runs in front.
This time, Echuca were met by a defiant Cooma and Jacob Kelly, whose 75-run not-out stand shouldered the hosts efforts.
Langley and the Scopelliti’s, Liam and Mason, all fell victim to Beard early to leave the Two Blues reeling at 3/18, bringing Kelly to the crease for the beginning of his dour vigil.
Wickets continued to fall around the Cooma number three, with scores to Brad Power (20), Xavier Fawcett (14), and 13 apiece to Nathan Angelino and Cooper Fawcett keeping the home side afloat at the other end.
In the end, Echuca failed to dislodge Cooma’s batters in the tense final overs, finishing at 8/155.
Despite this, the first innings win sees Echuca sit second on the A-grade ladder heading into the break.
They resume their season against Leitchville-Gunbower at Victoria Park when gets underway once again.
With one win and three losses, Cooma find themselves in sixth place, two games adrift of the top four. They have a date with ladder leaders Rochester at Windridge Oval in their return to play.
