South Wagga v Kooringal Colts
SOUTH Wagga have one hand on the Wagga Cricket Association minor premiership after setting Kooringal Colts 194 to chase at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
With one more day of cricket to be played before the finals series starts, the Blues are well placed in their two-day match with the Colts.
Captain Joel Robinson declared his team's innings at 9-194, looking to give Kooringal a tricky period to bat out late in the day.
His plan worked as his father Brian Robinson and Mitch Sykes both took wickets to have the Colts two down.
With a big chase ahead Tom Cox (11 not out) and Ben Webster (five not out) will return to the crease on Saturday with their team needing another 168 runs for first-innings points.
In difficult conditions at Robertson Oval, the Blues didn't get off to the best of start after losing their first three wickets for 45 runs.
Joel Robinson and (38) and Grant Forrest (25) put on 42 for the fourth wicket and Mitch Sykes (33) continued to keep the scoreboard ticking when Andrew Dutton removed the skipper.
The Blues lost 4-5 before Nathan Cooke and Brian Robinson put on 44 for the last wicket.
When Joel Robinson called time of the team's Cooke was unbeaten on 33 and his father 10.
Robinson would have liked for one of his batsmen to go on with the job, but was happy with the team's efforts on a difficult pitch.
"It wasn't too bad and we had to fight pretty hard as the pitch was a little slow," Robinson said.
"We worked hard, got a couple of partnerships and a few blokes got starts but you never felt in.
"It was really hard for someone to go one, but it was good a lot of blokes contributed."
Robertson Oval has been closed to first grade cricket since the start of the Christmas break, but Robinson thought it was important for his team to get back on the wicket.
Performing well with the bat and starting positively with the ball, the skipper is looking to continue that run when the match resumes on Saturday.
"We had one over to bat but I thought we would declare and have a crack at them, so it was a good start with the ball," Robinson said.
"Hopefully that can continue in the first session next week."
