Shepparton United has stayed within reach of finals after defeating Karramomus by seven wickets in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield on Saturday.
After losing the toss and being sent into bowl United’s bowling attack worked like a boa constrictor as it refused to let the Bloods’ batters get the better of it.
Opening bowlers Abe Lake (1-28 from seven overs) and captain Sam Nash (1-25 from nine) got United off to a bright start.
From there United’s attack never let up with the highest economy for the innings from a bowler being 4.33 an over.
Star all-rounder Rehan Bari was once again crucial in United’s win as he finished with figures of 0-16 from nine overs, including two maidens.
While with the bat he struck a quick-fire 33 not out off 27 balls in an innings that featured six fours.
United batter Jake Smith smacked his top score for the season, 55 not out from 80 balls, as his calm and calculated innings helped guide the side to its fifth win of the season.
United captain-coach Nash believes Smith was due for a big score given how hard he has worked throughout the season.
“He has been really solid all year and it was good to finally see him get a bit of reward for how hard he has been working and get his first 50 for the club,” he said.
“He basically anchored the whole innings. I put it on the batting group for someone to stick around and do that to help us chase that total down.”
Given the fact that Saturday’s game was played on a track that Nash said was “definitely not a bowler-friendly wicket”, United will head into the final few rounds of the season full of confidence in their bowling.
“We said two weeks ago ‘if we beat Old Students and Karramomus we will give ourselves a shot (of making finals) next week against Nagambie’,” he said.
“Against Old Students and Karra, we knew if we dropped one of those games that was our chance of making finals done. We have basically been playing for a finals spot for the last three weeks.”
For Karramomus, four of their top-six got starts of more than 20 runs, but unfortunately for the Bloods, none could continue with the bat and lift the run rate.
Opening bowler Zane Newbound was the standout for the Bloods as he finished with impressive figures of 1-23 from his 8.1 overs, including three maidens.
THE GAME
Karramomus 5-147 (Luke Forge 31*, Michael Mandaradoni 29, Sam Nash 1-25) lt Shepparton United 3-151 (Jake Smith 55*, Rehan Bari 33*, Zane Newbound 1-23)
STAR PLAYER
Jake Smith (Shepparton United): After United lost its two opening batters early, nerves would have shot through the United camp. But Jake Smith’s innings steadied the ship as he struck 55 not out off 80 balls, including six fours, in a match-winning performance.