Coomealla-Wentworth currently sit in fifth position on the Sunraysia Cricket Association ladder, one and a half games outside the top four with three rounds remaining.

But the Blues have the bye in the final round, meaning this is a must win game if they are any chance to play finals.

The Saints have won six of their last seven games to prove that they will be one of the teams to beat during finals in just over a month’s time.

A lot will rest on the Blues’ batting attack for tomorrow’s two-day match against the likes of Shane and Tony Trinnick, as well as Matt Walder who is having another stand-out season with the ball. Walder has taken 38 wickets at an average of nine runs per wicket, claiming his fifth five-wicket haul last weekend against Mildura East.

In other SCA matches this weekend, Mildura East will be hoping to build on their form after strong performance against Merbein South last weekend. East will fancy themselves of knocking over Workers-Gol Gol after falling 22 runs short of the Saints total of 287 last weekend.

Tom Vadlja is in top form with the bat for East and will be hoping for another big score this week after a 126 last Saturday, however coming up against the Workers at Alcheringa Oval will be no easy task.

For the last two rounds, the Workers have posted scores in excess of 300 to prove that they have arguably the best batting line-up in the SCA.

In the final game of the round, the Mildura Settlers will be hoping to continue their strong momentum towards finals against Irymple at Henshilwood Oval.

A win against Irymple is a must if Setts want to find their way into second position as the Workers having the bye next round. With Irymple out of finals contention, the home side will be hoping to push for an upset to shake the make-up of the top four.

Mildura West have the bye.

This article appeared in Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily 11/02/2012.