Batting first at its temporary home of Moon Oval at Rochester, Echuca had strong contributions from the middle order in setting an impressive total of 7-261.
Curtis Townrow got the host off to a lightning start, scoring exclusively via the boundary as he hit six fours in 12 balls before he was the first man out for 24.
Fellow opener Brendan Moyle was more measured in his approach, but added 29 all the same, setting a strong platform for Echuca.
The score was 3-67 when Charlie Hinks joined Anthony Dennis at the crease for a partnership that would catapult Echuca towards a strong total.
Dennis showed an attacking mindset, hitting 16 boundaries in his run-a-ball 88, while Hinks anchored the other end, eventually departing for 29.
The two added 92 together and Echuca was 5-193 by the time Dennis eventually ran out of luck, trapped in front by Peter Taylor.
Ben Henson would take up the cause in the later overs, knocking 45 unbeaten from 54 balls to close out Echuca’s strong innings.
Nondies used eight bowlers and seven of them snagged a wicket, Jamal Sukhon (1-25) the most economical.
Weather reduced the Nondies chase to 43 overs, with 244 the new target under the Duckworth-Lewis method, but the visitors wouldn’t come close to reaching the total.
Kale Edwards ripped through the top order, taking three wickets during Nondies’ first 29 runs, including both openers nicking off to keeper Brendan Moyle.
Broden Wishart was setting up an innings of substance, but was run out on 18, leaving his side in deep trouble at 6-59.
There was some fightback from the bottom five, led by Sukhon (35 not out) and Daniel Clements (23 from 23), but it was yet another defeat for Nondies-Cohuna, bowled out for 143.
Edwards’ early flurry remained his side’s best bowling effort as he took 3-21, while Aidan Young (2-27) and Nick Dolan (2-20) took two scalps each.
The run rate boost had Echuca surge past Kyabram Fire Brigade, which went down at the weekend, and Rochester, which had the bye, to take the final spot in the top four at the halfway mark of the season.
Those three sides look set to battle for that spot over the second half of the season, with the top three two games clear of the mid-table trio.
Echuca travels to Fire Brigade in a critical clash on Saturday, while Nondies-Cohuna hosts fellow struggler Tongala.
The Game
Echuca 7-261 (Anthony Dennis 88, Ben Henson 45 not out, Jamal Sukhon 1-25) d Nondies-Cohuna 143 (DLS target 244) (Jamal Sukhon 35 not out, Kale Edwards 3-21)
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