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Tatura A-grade started the penultimate round of cricket home and away games needing to win to keep its remote chance of playing in the finals alive.

Hosting Kialla Knights at Tatura Park the home side won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat on a pitch that had survived Thursday’s storm relatively well. Kialla started steadily to reach 71 for the loss of three wickets, but the persistence of the Tatura bowlers then paid off with the last seven wickets falling for 73 runs. Kialla was all out for 144.

Chris McCallum put in another tireless effort to take 3-35 from 21 overs, which included 10 maidens. Justin Connors took 3-31 and Josh Rankin, making a welcome return to A-grade, took 3-25 from 13 overs. Tom Miller finished off the innings with 1-2.

Tom Vibert put in a tidy display behind the stumps with four catches.

Tatura made a shaky start to its innings, losing both opening batsmen with the score on 13. Then old reliable Peter Watt and Neil Thurgood steadied the innings, batting through to stumps with Watt on 19 and Thurgood on 12. Tatura is 2-45, requiring a further 100 runs for a first innings win, a total it should be able to achieve.

B-grade travelled to Karramomus where the home side won the toss and elected to bat. It then took full advantage of the decision, batting through to right on stumps for the impressive total of 308. For Tatura, Lou Worm took three wickets, Griff O’Neill three, Josh Thurston two, and Rohan Forster and Lachie Magee one each.

D-grade, playing away to Karramomus, won the toss and sent the home side in, and then spent the rest of the day in the field. Karramomus batted steadily throughout the afternoon accumulating runs to be all out just on stumps for 208. Simon Russell was the most successful bowler with 3-26. Junior Angus Eaton did well to take 2-9, while Jordan Crisp, Will Hemming and Lachie Thurston each took a wicket. The remainder of the wickets were run outs. The Karramomus score is very competitive but not out of reach of the Tatura batting.

C-grade has the bye this round.

Junior cricket

The current round is the last for junior cricket before the finals start.

The first day of the under-16 game was called off because of a rain affected pitch.

The under-14 team is playing Mooroopna at Mooroopna. Tatura, suffering a shortage of players, won the toss and batted and could only manage 53 with the available players. Only Josh Moore (11) and extras (20) reached double figures. In reply, Mooroopna is 2-29, with Jess Petherick again taking the bowling honours with two wickets.

The under-12As are hosting Shepparton United at Howley Oval 2, where they sent the visitors in after winning the toss. Shepparton United managed 4-66 from its first 22 overs. Cade Dealy took two wickets for Tatura, and Sean McAllister and Josh Scrimizzi one each.

In reply, Tatura finished its 22 overs at 3-88. The under-12A team remains the club’s best chance of a finals berth.

The under-12B team had a bye this round.