The Mallee Murray team, of which all but one of the players was from Sunraysia, lost by seven wickets after a breathtaking display by Gippsland’s batsmen. The match was shortened by five overs per innings after the Gippsland team arrived late for the game in Bendigo.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, some big hitting from Mildura East opener Jason Harris had the team in good position with a quick-fire 42.

But that changed in the space of two balls as fellow opener Rob Newton was run out after a mix-up and then Harris was dismissed the next ball, leaving Mallee Murray at 3-68.

A half century from Merbein South skipper Adam Thomson and 39 from the lone Swan Hill player in the team, Matt Lanigan, helped push Mallee Murray past the 200 mark, finishing on 8-213 from its 45 overs.

Mallee Murray needed early wickets to stand a chance on a flat track, and Mildura West’s Rhys Webb picked up a couple to keep Gippsland to 2-58.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 3/11/2009.