The two teams were the lower half of the finals picture last year and, despite missing out on a grand final berth, are itching to go a step further this year.
Yet, that hasn’t been the case through three rounds in 2024-25, as both units have been inconsistent to start their campaigns.
To begin round four, Regis Chakabva’s BLU won the toss and elected to bat, looking to pile on a big total to assert its dominance early.
Openers Brodie Challis and Kade Pearse got on the front foot to begin the innings, but their aggression came at a price. Challis was caught in front by Tristan Watson in the 12th over and departed for 11.
BLU’s talisman Chakabva was next in and combined with Pearse for a strong second-wicket partnership.
Chakabva raised the bat for the second time in three innings, passing 50, to steady the ship for BLU.
However, a ball after hitting the milestone, Chakabva was caught by Rathika Rajakumara off the bowling of Swans star Asantha Singappuli.
Often BLU’s star number three is the lynchpin for its innings and in round four that again proved to be true.
Thomas Dicker survived exactly seven balls before he was heading back to the sheds for a duck, BLU now 3-102 after 43 overs.
Luke Thompson lasted slightly longer than Dicker, but ultimately suffered the same fate, leaving the middle after being bowled by AK Gunathilaka without score.
Meanwhile, Pearse was forced to watch the batting collapse unfold from the non-striker’s end and, before he could correct course, he too was sent packing thanks to a beautiful delivery from Tristan Watson that beat him all ends up, his defiant innings ending at 38.
BLU’s number six Joe Moss got off the mark immediately, scoring two from three deliveries before he succumbed to Gunathilaka’s bowling as well, this time the paceman reacting well to catch Moss off his own bowling.
Gunathilaka didn’t stop there, trapping Noah Turner in front for a duck three balls later, claiming a double wicket maiden in the 49th over.
Lee Murdoch only squeezed out a single from his nine deliveries before Gunathilaka claimed his fourth wicket of the innings due to some tidy work behind the stumps by wicketkeeper Grady Smith.
At 8-111, the situation was looking dire for BLU, but there was some resistance in the form of tail-enders Lucas Holgate and Simon Van Duinen who hung around for 10 overs together before Holgate was caught by Clayton Watson for 15 in the 60th over.
Van Duinen could only stay at the crease for five more deliveries after Holgate’s departure and his dismissal for 10 brought BLU’s innings to a close for 136.
With a relatively small total to bowl to, BLU needed to strike early to avoid the Swans getting comfortable in the middle.
However, it took it 10 overs to find the breakthrough in the form of strike bowler Jeremy Felmingham, who knocked over Clayton Watson for 16.
Kaydn Blachford and Singappuli played out the remaining five overs where the pair ended on 13 and four not-out respectively at stumps.
At 1-36 the Swans still need 100 to break even with BLU and will want to score quickly on the second day of the match if they have any chance of getting a positive result.
On the flip side, if BLU can rip through Echuca South in its innings it can win the game, but will want to go for the extra points and bowl it out twice.
With so much to do in one day, time will be the determining factor in a contest that could be insightful in judging where each side stands.
Meanwhile, first-innings points are still up for grabs in an intriguing clash between Tongala and Echuca.
Playing on its home pitch, Tongala is in a strong position against the champion, ending day one at 4-62 in response to Echuca’s 117 first innings score.
The Blues dug in for a 35-over stint at the end of the day, Adam Nunn (11 not out) and Darin Ohlsen (five not out) set to resume proceedings this weekend, chasing the 56 runs required for first-innings honours.
And in the round’s other game, Leitchville-Gunbower heads back to the crease at 4-115 after bowling Nondies Cohuna out for 79.
