Fourteen wickets fell on a day for the bowlers at Tongala Recreation Reserve, with Nondies-Cohuna edging ahead of the home side after a brilliant individual effort late in the day.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Nondies-Cohuna fell victim to a Rory Knight run out early in the piece, as Karim Marcelle was dismissed for five.
Patrick Doyle and Archie Sussex combined well from there however, frustrating the Tongala bowling attack, until skipper Alex Williams found the breakthrough, snaring the wicket of Doyle (33).
Sam O’Shea (16) was the next to go after being bowled by Jessie Johnstone, who followed up with the wicket of Zeb Ellwood for a duck shortly after.
Knight (3-21) would inflict more damage upon Nondies, this time with the ball, claiming the valuable wicket of Sussex (42), as well as those of Will O’Shea (0) and Shaun Haffenden (10) to give Tongala some ascendency.
Nondies skipper Kyeran Ellery would make an important 27 from number nine to help power the visitors past 150, but only just, with his side all out for 158 after 56.5 overs.
With 20 overs left in the day, Tongala’s chase began disastrously, as Stephen Townsend was removed for a golden duck by Haffenden (1-17), and it wouldn’t get much better after that, as Sam O’Shea gave Nondies the upper hand after an unbelievable individual effort.
Bowling six overs, O’Shea recorded six maidens while also snaring three wickets, heading to stumps with figures of 3-0 while reducing Tongala to 4-28, putting his side well and truly on top ahead of day two.
Tongala will resume the chase still 130 behind, with Lachlan Caldwell and Kade Northausen at the crease, both yet to score.
The Game
Nondies-Cohuna 158 (Archie Sussex 42, Patrick Doyle 33, Rory Knight 3-21) vs Tongala 4-28 (Alex Williams 15, Rory Knight 10, Sam O’Shea 3-0)