CRICKET: 03 FEBRUARY 2019

Minor Premiership decided but battle for minor places continues

Country maintained a clear lead at the top of the Oilsplus Molong Cricket Competition with a comfortable four-wicket win over second-placed Cudal yesterday afternoon at the Molong Rec.

In the other game Millthorpe easily accounted for Magpies at Millthorpe.

While the Country juggernaut has the Minor Premiership tied up, the battle for the other two finals spot remains tight and all of the other four teams could make it, though Magpies chances depend on them winning all their games and other results going their way.

More likely is that the finals will be decided between Country and the top two of Cudal, Millthorpe and Bowlers.

The competition table reads: Country 74, Cudal 46, Millthorpe 46, Bowlers 43, Magpies 35.

Next Saturday’s third-last round sees the following games: Cudal v Magpies (Cudal), Country v Bowlers (Molong Rec), Millthorpe bye. Games start at 1pm.

There are four possible outcomes, with tables reading in each case, as follows:

If Cudal d Magpies, and Country d Bowlers: Country 81, Cudal 53, Millthorpe 46, Bowlers 46, Magpies 38.

If Cudal d Magpies, and Bowlers d Country: Country 77, Cudal 53, Bowlers 50, Millthorpe 46, Magpies 38.

If Magpies d Cudal, and Country d Bowlers: Country 81, Cudal 49, Bowlers 46, Millthorpe 46, Magpies 42.

If Magpies d Cudal, and Bowlers d Country: Country 77, Bowlers 50, Cudal 49. Millthorpe 46, Magpies 42.

Molong Online is tipping Country to beat Bowlers, and Magpies to upset Cudal, keeping their finals chances alive for at least another week.