Rochester cricket falls to Cooma

Rochester held a six-point lead over Cooma heading into the round after a strong run of form, and with home ground advantage looked to be the favourites for the game.

Captain Sean Williams won the toss and chose to bat, with openers Tim Bubb and Waugh George starting well before George was dismissed for 10.

Bubb and number three Williams combined for a 41-run partnership, with their scores of 26 and 30 the highest for the Rochester side.

But with the dismissal of Bubb came a middle order collapse. Angus Martin, Dylan Cuttriss, Charlie Ryan and Spencer Cleary were all soon back in the sheds with less than 10 to their names.

Colby Wade (18) and Jesse Cuttriss (11) added some much needed runs, but the team was unable to get past the middle order problems, bowled out for 117 in the 42nd over.

For Cooma, Mitch Barrett was the chief destroyer, taking outstanding figures of 4/10 off his nine overs, including five maidens.

When Rochester made their way onto the field, the odds seemed to be in the favour of their opposition.

But Williams and Martin were not content to let the game go without putting up a fight.

Martin took the poles of Cooma opener Stephen Barrett for just two, the first of his three wickets of the day, all from Cooma's top four.

Williams took the wicket of Cooma's other opener Liam Thorne, and early in the innings Cooma were struggling at 4/37, with Rochester more than a shot of getting the win.

Liam Barrett (35) and Ethan Palma-Ludeman (42 not out) more than steadied the ship, but the match would come down to the final moments.

With Fraser Cleary bowling, Palma-Ludeman launched a six on the second ball of the 45th over to pass the target, Cooma's 7/121 earning them a three-wicket win.

The loss leaves Rochester half-a-game out of the top four with three matches to be played.