In a stunning bowling display, Eden ousted the Pirates for just 74 runs to claim first-innings points. 

Eden had batted first last weekend and, apart from a strong start by Drew Mudaliar, was dropping wickets cheaply. 

“Yeah it was pretty shaky to start with, but the boys did well with the bat on the second day,” squad captain Reece Wheeler said. 

 Mudaliar cleared 32 runs when he was dismissed lbw by Matt Corbett.

However, the top order crumbled as the Spink duo, Mark and Corey, were dismissed for just three runs. 

Meanwhile, Andrew Evelyn and Luke Timms posted 10 runs between them. 

Enter Matt Bell. 

Bell singlehandedly recovered Eden’s innings, plugging away to reach 44 runs before he was caught by Nick Mason. 

“It’s good to have Belly back, he’s been really handy,” Wheeler said. 

He also praised the efforts of pace-bowler Tyrone Thomas. 

“Tyrone has probably been our best in the second half of the season.”

A triplet of ducks followed and put the squad on the back foot, but Isaac Walker recovered a quick 10 runs to give Eden a total of 117. 

Robert Brown had been the main destroyer  for the Pirates, claiming four wickets. 

However, it was the response the Pirates were unable to provide that proved their downfall. 

Eden swamped the batsmen with flurries of bowling attack.

The club is renowned for its formidable line-up of pacemen, including Thomas, Bell and Wheeler himself. 

“It’s pretty good, we know that we can defend smaller totals,” Wheeler said. 

“It’s not ideal to be in a situation where you have to do that, but it can ease the pressure.”

An Evelyn catch on Pirates’ opener Matthew Moore for a duck set the stage for the innings. 

Just three batsmen surpassed 10 runs for the home side. 

Geordie McEvoy, Russell Thomson and Michael Stonehouse were the only standouts among a sea of low-scoring wickets. 

Thomas and Bell combined to decimate the South Eurobodalla batting roster. 

Thomas secured five wickets, while conceding just 29 runs and Bell gave the impressive figures of four for 13. 

After 30 overs, the Pirates were all out for a meager total of 74 runs. 

A second innings got underway on Saturday, but Eden was able to play defensively at the crease and add 51 runs to its total by the close of play. 

Denying a second innings opportunity for the Pirates was enough to secure the visiting side the first innings points as it now looks to take on Tathra in Eden. 

“We’re at home at Tathra this week” Wheeler said. 

“We are looking to secure our spot in the top four and get some momentum going into the finals.

“Tathra are the top team and it’s always good to beat them, it gets us noticed a bit more.”

The match gets underway at the Eden Cricket Ground on Saturday from 1pm.