A crucial partnership between Warren Clunes and Alex Jones helped South Wagga get the better of Wagga RSL on Saturday.
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Chasing 159 for victory at Wagga Cricket Ground, the Blues recovered after losing three quick wickets to sexure a five-wicket win.
Clunes (45) put on 65 runs with Alex Jones (45 not out) to see South Wagga into a winning position before being bowled by John Hoey.
Jones then saw the Blues home with three overs left.
Captain Jeremy Rowe thought the partnership was key.
“Early in the season we identified that partnerships were going to be the key to our batting efforts,” Rowe said.
“Another key is guys up the top making big runs, and we haven’t had that happen yet in the shorter form of the game, but partnerships have been a focus for us and without a doubt the difference was Jonesy and Wags’ (Clunes) partnership.”
Ethan Perry led the way for RSL, topscoring with 49.
Contributions for Sam Perry (23 not out), James Richards (23), Todd Henderson (18) and Dylan Koop (18 not out) got the Bulldogs to a defendable score.
However they struggled to convert their opportunity after an under-strength Blues slipped to 4-59.
South Wagga have now won three of their first four matches to start the season, something that pleases Rowe.
“There is a fair bit of cricket to go and we hope to be much better than what we are putting forward at the moment, but three from four is acceptable for us and we’re in a nice spot,” he said.