by Samuel Laffy
Iona (7/156) def. Catani (150)
Whilst most in the competition agreed to an early finish after the arrival of a wintry blast on the weekend, Iona bucked the trend and in doing so produced a performance worthy of celebration – breaking through for their first division one victory of the summer.
Resuming at 3/30 in pursuit of Catani's 150, the going was slow, with Liam Lenders (16 off 75) grinding out a 40-run stand with Graeme Rankin (who turned back the clock with a magnificent unbeaten half-century).
Their good work seemed like it might count for naught however, as Daniel (2/38 off 15) and James Vela (1/27 from 13) defied the slippery Kookaburra and made regular inroads.
At 7/107 it seemed as though it would be yet again another gallant loss for the Swamp Tigers, but Carter Davis had other ideas entirely.
Having watched his teammates struggle to break the shackles, Davis threw caution to the wind and dispatched a handful of huge sixes to race to 41* from just 22 balls and hand Iona the win.
The shock loss unfortunately puts a line through Catani's season – sitting nine points out of the top four and facing ladder-leaders Western Park in round 14 – and means all eyes will be on the Longwarry vs Drouin encounter this week.
Both sides sit three points clear of Ellinbank, with the loser handing the Eagles the opportunity to leapfrog them if they can defeat Trafalgar.