Played over the last weekend, the Lakers were able to defeat Delatite in a nail biter in Round 1 before going down in a close game to City Colts.
The Round 1 Saturday clash saw the Lakers field first and James Irvine continued to wreak havoc with the ball taking 5 for 7 from his four overs; he had 5 for 1 from his first 17 balls bowled.
Will Sharp claimed the wicket of former national Big Bash cricketer Trent Lawford dismissing him for a duck. Brock McCabe claimed 2 for 9 from 3 overs with Corey McIntosh 1 for 9 off 2.3 overs. The Lakers needed 66 runs for victory.
The Lakers got off to a perfect start with Zach Moore and Ben Irvine combining for a 32-run opening stand. Moore was dismissed for 14. Unfortunately, the Lakers were part of a hat trick for Delatite firebrand Matt Stevenson who took the wickets of Moore, Casey and McIntosh in his final over.
Lakers stumbled to victory with a diving Matt McCabe securing the winning run in the 17th over. Brendan Lewis scored 13 runs. Lewis and Brock McCabe combined for a 23-run partnership for the fifth wicket. McCabe made 10 runs.
A Round 2 Bye, saw the Lakers head to Wangaratta on Sunday for their Round 3 clash with City Colts. Winning the toss, the Lakers batted first. An early wicket bought Ben Irvine and Matt Casey together for a 57-run partnership.
Casey fell for 10 before one run later Irvine was dismissed for a game high 42 runs. His score included six boundaries in a great innings. A collapse of wicket saw the Lakers go from 3 for 59 to 9 for 99; before the final total of 103 from their 20 overs. It was great to see Angus Heslin make his A Grade debut and contribute 4 runs in the final overs.
The Lakers needed to bowl tightly and Colts were able to quell Irvine who went wicketless. Brock McCabe was superb with his leg spin bowling taking 3 for 23 from four overs in tough conditions. McCabe dismissed Victorian Premier League cricketer Isaac Willett for 5, English import Tom Jones for 19 and Oliver Willett for 0. Corey McIntosh was able to bowl with good lines claiming 2 for 21 off four overs. Unfortunately for the Lakers, City Colts scored the winning runs with 8 balls left to play.
The weekend was great for the development of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club, with the Lakers being the only club not to have a marquee player from outside the league for the tournament; instead relying on local talent from within the club and performing admirably.
A Grade are now back to two-day cricket with their clash this weekend against Beechworth at Beechworth; and are currently in second position on the ladder.