PREMIUM
Sport

Nagambie denied by stunning partnership

Nagambie skipper Mark Nolan steams in. Photo by Megan Fisher

At the end of day one of their Haisman Shield contest last week neither Nagambie or Shepparton Youth Club United were able to decisively declare themselves ahead in the duel.

The Lakers had chosen to bat and put 201 runs on the board, a competitive total after 80 overs at the crease, but at the same time the home side would have felt that it was an attainable score on the Princess Park deck.

Rehan Bari makes his ground en route to an unbeaten 108 runs. Photo by Megan Fisher

But after 10 overs on Saturday any casual observer would have had the visitors well and truly in control of the battle.

Led by the lethal bowling of Mitchell Winter-Irving, as well as skipper Mark Nolan, Nagambie had sent United openers Jake Callow (4) and Steven Tate (2) back to the pavilion with the scorecard reading 2-16.

Nagambie wicketkeeper Luke Nolan appeals. Photo by Megan Fisher

The situation soon became dire for the home side with Fahad Mirza (12) joining his teammates back in the sheds, leaving United in tatters at 3-20 and with more than 180 runs still required for victory.

Enter Sebastian Menzhausen and Rehan Bari, who despite finding themselves together in the middle much earlier than either probably would have anticipated, dug in to set about the gargantuan task ahead of them.

It was all smiles from Nagambie’s Tom Barnes despite the tough slog his side faced in the field. Photo by Megan Fisher

What unfolded in the next 53 overs was a brilliant display of patience and resolve by the pair and painful in equal measure for the Nagambie fielders, as Menzhausen and Bari played a magnificent counterattacking role to secure the win for their side.

With a strike rate of a little more than 32, Menzhausen steadied the ship at one end, hitting four boundaries on his way to 59 off a ridiculous 182 balls, soaking up all of the early pressure with aplomb before eventually being dismissed LBW by Winter-Irving.

Nagambie wicketkeeper Luke Nolan watches the ball in the field. Photo by Megan Fisher

It was a knock that freed up Bari at the other end, who smacked 14 fours and two maximums en route to an unbeaten 108, raising the bat after facing 177 balls, a fairly decent clip considering the circumstances he came in under.

The pair took the total from 3-20 to 4-153, a partnership of 133 runs, before Menzhausen eventually fell less than 50 runs from victory.

Nagambie’s Zac Winter-Irving gets to his feet after fielding the ball. Photo by Megan Fisher

Nonetheless it was a pivotal knock from United’s number four, with his side securing victory at four wickets down with seven overs to spare, a remarkable turnaround from its early misfortune.

For Nagambie, Winter-Irving was the best of the bunch with the ball, finishing with a valiant 3-46 from 19 overs, and looked to be the hero early until his efforts were foiled by the Menzhausen-Bari partnership.

Sebastian Menzhausen was magnificent for his 59 at the weekend, playing a pivotal role in Shepparton Youth Club United’s first win of the season. Photo by Megan Fisher

Nolan was the only other wicket-taker, finishing with figures of 1-54 from 25 overs.

The result also comes as Shepparton Youth Club United’s first win of the season, taking six points away from the contest to improve to 11th on the ladder and leaving Pine Lodge and Euroa winless below it.

Nagambie’s Brayden Briggs runs in to bowl. Photo by Megan Fisher

Conversely, Nagambie picks up its first loss of the season, although its 4-1 record is still good enough to have it in fourth following the completion of the round, level on 30 points with the three sides ahead of it, although with a game in hand over Kyabram and Tatura.

THE GAME

Nagambie 201 (Luke Nolan 79, Mark Nolan 51, Sam Nash 6-51) lt Shepparton Youth Club United 4-204 (Rehan Bari 108*, Sebastian Menzhausen 59, Mitchell Winter-Irving 3-46)

STAR PLAYER

Rehan Bari (Shepparton United): The Prince of Princess Park has done it again. An unbeaten ton to flip the game’s script, Bari’s century was pivotal for the combine to chase down Nagambie’s hefty total.