Try as they might Northerners could not pull off the unthinkable on Saturday.
Faced with a mountain, an Everest, of runs to get, the Jets fell short of the mark in their two-day clash against unbeaten Waaia despite some individual brilliance from Zavier Davidson.
The youngster’s wicket was the last to fall at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve, with the Jets coming up 133 runs short of the Bombers’ ludicrous score of 334 set the week prior.
Northerners walked off the ground at 6-201 with Davidson making more than half of the runs, a valiant attempt considering no side had put more than 200 on the board against Waaia this season.
Still, Mitch Cleeland’s side is yet to taste defeat.
Saturday’s victory was a chief example of why Waaia is billed as the competition favourite, nipping a momentum-fuelled Northerners in the bud before the Jets could get cracking.
Brayden Summerville removed the first two wickets early and the Bombers probably had another bat in mind with an outright win up for grabs.
Then came Davidson.
Trotting in at six, the teenager showed poise far beyond his years as he grounded Northerners’ innings, gelling at the crease with Bayden Hutchins.
He and Hutchins proved to be a thistle in Waaia’s foot, refusing to leave with Davidson scoring freely while the Jets’ opener soaked up the pressure.
The duo provided serious pushback, but with Hutchins departing for 34 off 179 balls, Northerners needed to up the ante.
THE GAME
Waaia 6-334 (Brayden Carey 128, Sam Trower 126, Declan Newbound 4-61) d Northerners 6-201 (Zavier Davidson 107, Bayden Hutchins 34, Brayden Summerville 3-38)
STAR PLAYER
Brayden Carey (Waaia): The Bombers’ vice-captain was elegant on day one and vigilant on day two. His 128 was the second-highest total made in the Haisman Shield this season, and two catches behind the pegs gives him the edge over fellow centurion Sam Trower.
Davidson carried on his work alongside skipper Stuart Turner, but the required run rate began to skyrocket, and eventually the load became too great to bear for the young batter.
Waaia spinner Quinton Venter forced Davidson into a mistake on 107, and rather than go guns blazing in search of a miracle, Turner and number eight Jake Davidson chose instead to hold on to their wickets and see out the afternoon.
Summerville finished with figures of 3-38 and Venter was also handy, closing out with 2-50.
The loss ― Northerners’ first since October ― relegates the side out of finals contention while, unsurprisingly, Waaia keeps its post at the summit.