Nagambie’s run home in this Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield campaign was the most difficult in the league on paper.
The 2023-24 home stretch has wasted no time unleashing unkind favour upon the Lakers, who tasted a five-wicket defeat to Mooroopna on home soil Saturday.
Nagambie’s last run out against Northerners in mid-December was one of its more lamentable outings from a team perspective.
Skipper Mark Nolan took seven wickets and fell just short of an unbeaten half-century across the two days, but got next to no help as his side crashed to an unexpected defeat.
THE GAME
Nagambie 94 (Mitch Winter-Irving 41, Nick Breslin 3-6, Aaron Di Fede 2-21) lt Mooroopna 5-96 (Jac Smith Williams 29*, Henry Barrow 27*, Mark Nolan 2-18)
STAR PLAYER
Henry Barrow (Mooroopna): Breslin may be considered stiff here, but on a day with little in the way of glittering stats, Barrow’s removal of Nagambie talisman Mark Nolan was pivotal early, before his calm 27 took the Cats home.
This time around, Nolan at least saw another batsman stand up as Mitchell Winter-Irving took the game on with a knock of 41 (three fours, one six), but a brilliant Cats attack once again reduced Nagambie to a one-man show with the willow.
Two Lakers reached double figures in being skittled for 95, but Nolan again stepped up when needed early in Mooroopna’s reply to remove Brodie McDonald in the first over.
Next was the big wicket of Matt Price for a single run, but Mooroopna would be controlled no longer.
Jac Smith Williams kept the game’s pace on his terms after coming in at four, knowing his side had control of its destiny with overs aplenty in hand.
His patient unbeaten 29 steered the Cats to yet another relatively comfortable win, though the five-wicket margin might have been larger on another day.
Haisman Shield action this weekend had a variety of different pitch states after the midweek storms that blanketed much of northern Victoria, and Nagambie Recreation Reserve seemed to have plenty in it for the bowlers in following that theme.
There is no shortage of concern over what the Lakers have to deal with over the coming four rounds in closing season 2023-24, but on the plus side, Nolan’s charges have just the right chance to find some form over the coming fortnight with Euroa up next.
Mooroopna also gets its next two weeks at home ahead of the general bye, but there will be much greater expectations of a genuine contest as the Cats welcome Numurkah, fresh off a desperately needed victory of its own.