Nagambie's James Auld took 2/21 off four overs against Kyabram.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
On Saturday afternoon, the Nagambie Cricket Club opened its Haisman Shield campaign with a Duckworth-Lewis-induced win over defending premiers Kyabram.
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Winning the toss and electing to bat at Kyabram Recreational Reserve, the Redbacks’ Shafiqullah Maroofkhel broke through early, dismissing Lakers openers Zac Winter Irving and Luke Nolan for 16 and 11 to leave the Lakers at 2-34 in the early stages of the game.
Mitchell Winter-Irving and James Wilson rescued Nagambie from a potentially precarious situation with a vital 66-run stand that took the Lakers to 3-105 before Winter-Irving had his stumps knocked over by Charlie Mclay just short of a half-century on 48.
Captain Mark Nolan then contributed a run-a-ball 25 to lead the Lakers to 4-152 before he became the third Nagambie batter to exit at the hands of Maroofkhel courtesy of a sharp Paul Parsons catch.
Top scorer Wilson departed soon after scoring the first half-century of the campaign, with Jonathan Moore and Tom Barnes, on seven and 18 not out, respectively, seeing out the remainder of the overs to see the Lakers at 5/181 at the innings break.
The defending premiers' innings could not have started worse, with opening bowlers Mitchell Winter Irving and Tom Barners combining to send opener Billy Mclay back to the sheds with the first ball of the year.
The Lakers' afternoon got even better when Xavier Arandt knocked over another opener, Paul Parsons, for 10 and Cade Mueller for four quickly, leaving the Redbacks on the verge of oblivion at 3/20.
Number four Kyle Mueller restored some initial calm to Kyabram’s innings in combination with number five Ethan Hart to lead the side to 4-77 before James Auld dismissed Charlie Hart to leave them floundering at 5/89 off 24 overs.
With the Redbacks needing 92 off the next 21 overs with only five wickets left, the Lakers were in the box seat to upset the premier on their home wicket.
Next up for Nagambie is a home clash against Central Park-St Brendan's.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Lukas Hanslow had other ideas, with Mueller and him both scoring at a consistent rate before Brayden Biggs dismissed the number four for a well-made half-century.
Lakers captain Mark Nolan then trapped Jackson Mclay leg before wicket to leave the Redbacks at 7/113.
Hanslow took ownership of his partnership with Nicolas Chambers to get the home side to 138 before Biggs knocked his stumps over.
With seven overs, 43 runs, and three wickets left, the competitive contest looked like it was going down to the wire.
That was until the heavens opened up, stranding the Redbacks at 9/165 with two-and-a-half overs left in the day.
With conditions deemed unplayable, the ironically nicknamed Lakers, thanks to the wet conditions, took the somewhat controversial victory.
Next up for Nagambie is Central Park-St Brendan’s, while Kyabram will look to right the previous week's wrong against Mooroopna.
Likewise, in B-grade, it was good news for Nagambie. Its Clyde Young Shield side had a nail-biting two-run victory against the Redbacks, with captain William Ulrich taking four wickets in a man-of-the-match performance.
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