Nearly won it for them: Nagambie bowler Mitch Winter-Irving was on fire, taking 5-31.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Despite an almighty showing with the ball, Nagambie has crashed out of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield finals race.
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On its home deck, Waaia recovered from a serious challenge from Nagambie to defeat it by one wicket and end its campaign.
After finishing the regular season in sixth spot with seven wins and five losses, the Lakers were clear underdogs heading into the first final.
And after Waaia restricted the Lakers to a first-innings total of 131, the Bombers would have been paying $1.01 if a bookie covered the Haisman Shield.
But the Lakers, led by star all-rounder Mitch Winter-Irving (5-31 from 20 overs), were not ready to roll over and die as they took two wickets before stumps on Saturday to leave the Bombers on 2-31.
As the second day’s play began, the Bombers would have felt their knees wobble and teeth begin to chatter as four quick wickets left them 6-59, requiring a further 73 runs for victory.
Clean the ‘Kooka’ side: Nagambie fielder Tyrone Muir catches the ball.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Not on my watch: Nagambie’s Benjamin Tarran was sharp in the field.
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Megan Fisher
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Hot as hell: Waaia batters Brenton Low and Quinton Venter take a much-needed drink.
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Megan Fisher
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Woohoo! Nagambie celebrates a Waaia wicket.
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Megan Fisher
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Workhorse: Nagambie captain Mark Nolan bowled 25.3 overs.
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Megan Fisher
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Good teamwork: Waaia batters Brayden Summerville and Quinton Venter had a 35-run partnership.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Safe as houses: Nagambie wicket keeper Luke Nolan.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
One man who stood tall for the Bombers against a high-quality Lakers bowling attack was Quinton Venter (40 runs off 130 balls), whose effort with the bat anchored the innings.
Venter was so much of a thorn in the side of Nagambie that when dismissed, he copped a passionate send-off that included a Brett Lee-esque chainsaw celebration.
The momentum in the match kept swinging back and forth as the Lakers tried to stifle the run supply, and their best efforts with the ball were praised by opposition captain Mitch Cleeland.
“The scores probably didn’t reflect it (the quality of the pitch), albeit it was difficult, and it moved around a lot off the seam, and anyone who applied themselves it worked for,” he said.
“(A score of) 130 probably wasn’t reflective of the wicket. It was probably more of a 180-190 sort of a wicket, I would have thought.
“I think both sides bowled really well. They have a really good bowling unit and we like to pride ourselves on that as well.”
Nagambie was unable to get the crucial wicket at the death, the Bombers needing just 12 runs to win with only one wicket remaining and their number 10 and 11 at the crease.
Waaia talisman Jesse Trower was the one to lead his Bombers over the line as he smacked two fours to snatch victory from the Lakers.
Nagambie captain Mark Nolan believes that while his side should be proud of how it fought in the final, it probably underperformed through the season.
“I don’t think many of us had a good year and we still managed to make finals and push the top teams,” Nolan said.
“I think if the group can reach its potential, we will be very hard to beat. But obviously, we will get together tonight and have a few drinks and reflect on the season.
“At 5-30, it was pretty doom and gloom (on Saturday), so just to get back in the game was a pretty good effort, but they were always going to be hard to beat up here.”
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