Diggers keep season alive with win over Coro in GDCA first grade elimination final

With the fight for survival, after winning the toss and electing to bat, Coro was on the back foot early with Jake Rand (1) falling to Danny Dossiter while Trevor Richards (1/8) struck to remove Tim Rand (4) to have the Cougars sitting on 2/13 after nine overs.

Coro's experience duo of Haydn Pascoe and Dean Bennett looked to get their side on track with a 40-run stand before Pascoe was caught off the bowling of Mark Favell.

Wickets started to fall at regular intervals, and while Bennett (30), Rob Rand (11) and Ben Signor (12) were able to get starts, they weren't able to go on with Favell (2/21) and Ash Verhagen (3/21) doing the damage.

Yash More (16) was able to add some late runs before Dossiter (3/24) picked up the final wicket to see Coro bowled out for 109.

Tom Valeri was able to make a strong statement getting his side to 20 off the first six overs before Craig Lugton (2) fell to the bowling of Alex Flood (1/41).

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Valeri and Richards were able to see off the final seven overs of the day, adding 11 runs to reach stumps at 1/31.

The Cougars made just the start to day two they would have hoped for with the important wicket of Trevor Richards, who fell to Ben Signor (1/18).

Matt Crack joined Valeri out in the middle, and the pair were able to get their side into a strong position.

The pair were able to put on 53 runs in 14 overs before Teei Piawi was able to make the breakthrough the side needed with the wicket of Crack (18) and followed it up the very next ball with the dismissal of Mark Favell (0).

Kyle Bennett was able to see off the hat-trick delivery but fell seven overs later when Piawi continued his damaging spell and then knocked over Ben Fattore and Ryan Bulluss to complete a five-wicket haul and see Diggers sitting on 7/103 still needing seven runs to pass Coro's total.

Valeri led his side past the total five overs later and looked to set his side up for a defendable total should they need to bowl again.

It wasn't required, however, as Valeri (83*) and Verhagen (2*) got their side to 7/155, which was a lead of 46 before Coro conceded to set Diggers up with a meeting with Leagues.

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