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Stanhope has made a good start in its bid to upset finalist Tongala in the penultimate home-and-away round of Goulburn Murray Cricket.

On the first day on Saturday at Tongala, Stanhope had reached 1/37 at stumps in reply to Tongala’s score of 186.

Star of the Tongala innings was number nine batsman Josh Regan who slammed 58, including six fours and two sixes. It was his highest A-grade score and couldn’t have been more timely.

Tongala’s decision to bat was not going to plan when Craig Emmett had removed openers Mark Scown and Darin Ohlsen with just four runs on the board.

At one stage Tongala had dipped to 6/77 after the dismissals of skipper Adam Nunn for 28 and Jordan Souter for 24 but Jayden Tucker (24), Dave Currie (25) and Regan then stepped up to inject some respectability into the score.

Emmett was the most successful of the Stanhope bowlers with 3/35 while Hodson and skipper Brad Lowe both picked up two wickets.

In reply Stanhope reached 1/37 to leave the game in the balance, but opener Matt Evans, who made 26, is unavailable this week — leaving Stanhope a batsman short.

■Cooma is in with a chance of beating Bunnaloo and notching its second win for the season after its top order batsmen had all got starts.

The first six Cooma batsmen all reached double figures with Nick Holman’s 46 at number five the most valuable contribution.

Next best were Liam Barrett with 21 and Michael Hill 19.

Cooma’s bowlers will have to step up this Saturday as the home side reached 0/34 at stumps in reply.

The other two games involving certain finalists are also at interesting stages.

Rochester United was bundled out for just 101 as a result of some good bowling from Echuca’s Tyler Beard (4/27) and Brandon Dixon (4/33).

But United’s bowlers then hit back to have Echuca reeling at 6/57.

Col Griggs (3/22) and Dylan Cuttriss (2/29) were mainly responsible for bringing their side back into calculations.

In the remaining game Rochester Tigers posted 180 in its clash with Moama.

Opener Daniel Major top scored with 32 and the last three partnerships proved valuable, contributing 70 runs to the total.

Moama was 2/65 in reply and the final result still very much in the melting pot.