Nolan heroics not enough as Lakers suffer loss
Nagambie’s Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield campaign got off to a rocky start on Saturday, falling to a young Northerners outfit by two wickets in a low-scoring encounter at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.
Heading into the match a hot favourite, a sub-par first innings total of 100 would be the catalyst for Nagambie’s defeat, as the Jets limped across the line in what was an enthralling run chase.
The Lakers were boosted by a man-of-thematch performance by skipper Mark Nolan, who made a match-high 33 with the bat and took 5-20 with the ball, but those efforts were not enough to get over the line against a well-disciplined Northerners squad.
It was a perfect start to the season for the visiting Jets and coach Steve Allen said he could not have been more proud of the performance his young team put in.
“It was a really pleasing result," Allen said. “You are always a bit uncertain of how it’s going to go in the first game of the season, so to put in such a strong performance, I could not be more proud,.
“The most pleasing thing was there was a great combination of youth and experience, like Tim Brett setting us off on the right foot with the ball, and then a couple of our younger guys like Preston Hall taking control with the bat.
“As a coach, I could not have asked for anything more from the guys, they were outstanding.”
Winning the toss and electing to bat on their home deck, it was a horror start for the Lakers as young gun Jono Moore was skittled by Tim Brett with the second ball of the innings.
It was a precursor of things to come. Nagambie continued to battle on what was a tough wicket as Brett, Dallas Furnell and Josh Sidebottom combined beautifully with the new Kookaburra to have the Lakers in disarray at 6-39
Just more than 20 overs into its season, Nagambie already found itself on the canvas and in need of a hero.
And as he has done on countless occasions throughout his career, Nolan rose to the fore, providing a cool head in a crisis to spark a mini-revival alongside Brayden Biggs.
Striking 33 and 22 respectively, Nolan and Biggs added a crucial 51 runs for the sixth wicket, as the Lakers managed to produce a total that gave their bowlers a chance.
The second innings began in near identical fashion to the first, as Jets skipper Ben Pedretti lasted one delivery after being struck on the pad by Nolan.
But while the Lakers crumbled after the early wicket, Northerners held firm, as youngster Hall (23) and seasoned campaigner Mitch Brett (21) put on a vital 37-run stand.
However, Brett’s departure sparked a collapse as Nolan took over the contest.
Backing up his efforts with the bat, the Nagambie captain was determined to win this game on his accord, ripping through the Jets’ middle order with five straight wickets to put the game back in the balance.
Still needing 34 runs with three wickets in the shed, it was Northerners' turn to need a hero, and it was the experience of Trent Sidebottom that shone through as he struck an unbeaten 19 to see his team home.
Nagambie will be looking to bounce back next week as it welcomes a Katandra side fresh off producing an opening-round demolition job of Old Students.
It was a much better start to the season for Nagambie’s B-grade side, as it travelled to Pine Lodge and claimed a thrilling one-wicket victory.
After losing the toss and bowling first, Blake Ezard was the star of the show for the Lakers in the first innings, taking 5-34 as they restricted the Lodgers to a modest total of 152.
But early wickets stifled the Nagambie run chase as it found itself in dire straights at 4-40 at around the halfway mark.
Regan Gardiner and skipper Will Ulrich steered the ship, producing critical knocks
of 21 and 18 respectively to get the Lakers on track. It was then left to James Brook (12 not out) and Sam Villinger (13 not out) to finish the job, with the pair adding 22 for the final wicket to secure the victory.
Nagambie’s E-grade side joined its B-grade team on the winners’ list with a commanding 105-run win over Murchison at Nagambie Primary School.
The Lakers dominated the clash from start to finish, posting a monstrous first innings total of 8-203 before bowling Murchison out for just 98.