Luke Nolan raises bat as Nagambie sets Tatura a hefty target on day one of Haisman Shield clash

He made Howley Oval his playground on the way to raising the bat, making his second century of the current Haisman Shield campaign, during a big day out with the willow.

Beforehand, the hosts had made a great start through all-rounder Chaz Cheatley.

The youngster stuck a healthy dent in Nagambie’s order by dismissing openers James Auld and Benjamin Tarran before they could convert starts into scores.

It brought Nolan and Mitchell Winter-Irving to the crease and the fun stopped there for Tatura as the duo hung around for 30 overs in a pivotal partnership for the Lakers.

The latter crunched a number of boundaries and looked primed to kick on and follow the lead of Nolan, but the Bulldogs finally found some respite from the onslaught as he walked three runs short of a half-century.

Zac Winter-Irving contributed 21 runs, but was the next to go and when Nolan finally dropped one into the hands of Tatura skipper Daniel Coombs, the hosts would’ve thought they had breathing space.

This was not the case.

Though the Bulldogs severed one Nolan’s run supply, like a white-wearing hydra, along came another in the form of Mark Nolan who swung hard at the death to put another 30 on the board for his side.

A long day in the field for Tatura was sweetened by the efforts of Cheatley (2-22) and Blake Armstrong (2-66), while Jayden Armstrong bowled well for lack of reward.

Should the Lakers take victory this Saturday Nolan’s troops could rise as high as second, while Tatura will be desperately avoiding another loss to its 2-4 resume.