Pine Lodge was on the ropes with 10 overs to go during last Thursday’s Cricket Shepparton Higher-grade T20 match against Euroa.
On a bright and warm evening at Lemnos Recreation Reserve, the Lodgers were desperate to secure their first victory of the season.
However, a young and talented Euroa side had Pine Lodge backed into a corner and protecting its head with a quarter of the match remaining.
The Magpies had begun throwing their punches during the first innings by restricting the Lodgers to 9-134 after their 20 overs.
If it hadn’t been for import Emile Haratbar’s 30 runs off 21 balls and tail-ender Tiron Fernando who struck 27 off 16 (three boundaries and one six), the home side’s first innings total could have easily been sub-100.
The Magpies handed young guns Vaughan Kirk and Will Jackson the captaining duties in a bid to grow their next generation’s leadership skills.
Young gun opening bowler Walter Jackson starred for Euroa taking 2-15 from his four overs, while Brad Gleeson finished with the exact same figures.
With a target of 135 set, Euroa made a strong start to the chase as the Magpies sat on 0-72 after eight overs.
Will Jackson was the first to depart as he was dismissed by Darshana Hettige for 39 off 28 (five boundaries and one six).
Jackson’s opening counterpart Ryan Hill (36 off 24) was dismissed six balls later as the cracks began to show for Euroa.
The Lodgers slowly began to shift the momentum and slow the scoring down as the Magpies went from needing 60 runs off 72 balls with 10 wickets in hand to requiring 30 off 30 with five wickets in the bank.
The match swayed back and forth for the final few overs, with Euroa needing 10 runs off the last six balls (three wickets remaining) to win the game.
However, Pine Lodge’s Gill Nav came in clutch, conceding only five runs off the 20th over to secure a historic victory for his club.