Approaching two years since their last Goulburn Murray Cricket A-grade victory, Nondies will lament what might have been, a defining wicket in the first innings changing the course of the match.
Batting first at Cohuna Recreation Reserve, Nondies dug in throughout the innings, the likes of Matt Oddie (29 from 52) and Rhys Thrum (20) doing their part.
The linchpin of the effort though was Jamal Sukhon.
Facing more than 100 deliveries Sukhon built towards a half-century.
By the time he hit 50 though, his side was down to its last three wickets, sitting 7-146 and with more than six overs to bat.
Sukhon had done well marshalling the strike and should he have hung around could have been worth another 20-30 runs over the finals overs.
Instead, an ill-advised single on the last ball of the 43rd, which would have retained him the strike, ended in his run out, only two balls after he reached his half-century.
Nondies would add only three more runs to the total as they were bundled out within three overs from the Sukhon run out, posting 149.
Adam Nunn has risen to prominence within the Tongala side of late and was again a leader with the ball, taking 4-31, while Dylan Taylor grabbed two wickets.
Nunn also had a starring role with the bat, one of two Blues to salute a half-century.
Batting has been Tongala’s Achille’s heel for several seasons, but Nunn (52) and Jayden Tucker (63) stepped up to ensure the Blues got home.
Tonny was 2-21 before the pair linked up to add 103 for the third wicket, getting its side within 26 runs of the target, before Matt Ohlsen finished the game with 16 not out from 20.
Had Nondies had five of Oliver More in its attack, the result could have been very different, his 3-7 from five overs a standout statistic.
Although it has already beaten winless Nondies twice, a 3-6 record doesn’t put Tongala out of finals contention yet, the side trailing the finals spots by two wins.
The Blues are back on home turf on Saturday, welcoming a refreshed Bamawm-Lockington United off the bye, while Nondies will battle fellow struggler Leitchville-Gunbower at Gunbower.
The Game
Nondies-Cohuna 149 (Jamal Sukhon 50, Matt Oddie 29, Adam Nunn 4-31) lt Tongala 5-150 (Jayden Tucker 63, Adam Nunn 52, Oliver More 3-7)
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