Coro Cougars defeat Exies Diggers in GDCA first grade

The Diggers side won the toss and elected to bat but lost the wicket of Mark Favell (7) early when he was bowled by Alex Flood with the score on 10.

Luke Peruzzi and Diggers skipper Trevor Richards looked to get their side moving in the right direction before Flood struck again to remove Peruzzi (8) while Mitchell Williams-Hedges (1/27) picked up the wicket of Tom Valeri soon after.

The returning Theo Valeri was the next to join Richards, and the pair were able to get their side to 50 of 13.2 overs before Valeri (11) was caught off the bowling of Yash More (1/18).

Richards was able to keep the score ticking over while Matt Crack occupied the other end before Ben Signor (2/19) struck to remove Crack (2) and Kyle Bennett in successive deliveries but Ben Fattore was able to see off the hat-trick delivery.

Fattore and Richards were able to get their side to 100 in the 27th over before another two quick wickets.

This time it was the turn of Coro's Dean Bennett to pick up two wickets in quick succession as Fattore (7) was caught by Flood while Ryan Bulluss followed his teammate back to the pavilion the next ball when he was bowled by Bennett.

Richards was able to post his third fifty of the season before Bennett (3/11) took his third of the afternoon while Flood (3/26) returned to the attack to take the wicket of Richards (61) to see Diggers bowled out for 127 in the 23rd over.

Bennett and Williams-Hedges were able to make a strong start for the Cougars with 44 runs off the first 10 overs and set their side on course for victory.

The Cougars kept their momentum going before the opening partnership was finally ended by Ash Verhagen (1/18) who picked up the wicket of Bennett (42) when he was caught by Crack with the score on 73.

Coro captain Haydn Pascoe and Williams-Hedges were able to consolidate their side's position putting on 21 runs over the next nine overs before Williams-Hedges departed when he was caught by Tom Valeri off the bowling of Mark Favell (1/13).

With their side needing 33 runs off the remaining 14 overs, Pascoe (29*) and Tim Rand (12*) were able to get their side to an eight-wicket win with four overs remaining.

The six points picked up with the win means Coro are now 14 points ahead of third-placed Leagues on the one-day ladder.

The Cougars have the week off before their top of the table clash with Leagues while Exies Diggers will take on the Panthers next week.

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