Old Students made it back-to-back wins to end their Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield campaign on Saturday with a stunning 25-run victory over Nagambie.
The Students, who have been the surprise packet this season, ended Nagambie’s chances of playing finals with another shock win, to follow on from the previous week’s classy effort over Northerners.
For the second week running Students were led by their leader and gun all-rounder Callan McCabe as he helped his side restrict a hell-bent and hungry Lakers outfit to 127 runs from 32.2 overs.
The week prior it was McCabe’s dominance with the bat, but in Saturday’s round 14 triumph it was his heroics with the ball that handed his outfit its fifth win of the summer.
The result at Nagambie Recreation Reserve has Old Students finish the season in eighth spot on the ladder — their best finish in more than two summers.
After deciding to bat first, Students got their innings off to a bright start thanks to oepners Manindergit Singh (37 runs) and Luke McPhillamy (28).
The pair put on 57 runs for the opening stand before Nagambie’s import Jeewan De Silva (2-24) broke the partnership.
A further five wickets fell for only 22 runs as Nagambie regained control.
Brock Boddington was the chief destroyer with the ball for the host and claimed class figures of 4-29.
Teenage maestro Sam O’Brien (22 runs) pushed the Students to a competitive score of 152.
Nagambie, needing a win and bonus point if it was to have any hope of reaching finals, went about its run chase with an attacking mindset.
Skipper Mark Nolan (21 runs) and Jono Moore (24) made run-a-ball knocks before Old Students’ two standout bowlers entered the fray.
Spin wiz Liam Callegari trapped Moore LBW, the first of his four wickets, while McCabe dismissed Nolan a short while later.
The Lakers suffered a mini-collapse following Nolan’s departure as Callegari and his captain went to work.
Nagambie found itself 7-96, but with a brave Tyrone Muir at the crease a faint chance of securing victory was still alive.
That was until McCabe knocked over his castle for 36 runs and all but secured the visitors’ stunning victory.
THE GAME
Old Students 152 (Manindergit Singh 37, Luke McPhillamy 28, Brock Boddington 4-29, Jeewan De Silva 2-24, Mark Nolan 2-25) d Nagambie 127 (Tyrone Muir 36, Jono Moore 24, Callan McCabe 5-35, Liam Callegari 4-20)
STAR PLAYER
Callan McCabe (Old Students): Fresh off his player-of-the-match efforts the previous round, McCabe showcased to the competition the quality of his bowling in Saturday’s win with a number of important scalps. His 5-35 was a season-high and takes his wicket tally for the summer to 21.