With a margin of twenty points separating fourth-placed Katamatite with striped rivals Cobram, Katamatite were looking to close the gap when they met with Berrigan at home last Saturday, February 1.
Round 13 of the MVCA meant another ordeal in the shape of two-day cricket at the height of summer.
But it wasn’t just the scorching yellow sun that turned up the heat.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, with Matthew Ross opening at the top of the order with eight from 14.
Berrigan captain Jacob Bartlett notched a hard-won 38 from 123 before being sent packing - stumped by Tyler Green off the delivery of Kepler Lukies.
It was a pattern, driven by Lukies’ confounding attack, that was to repeat through the Saints’ first innings. Assisted by the efforts of James Irvine (2-16), Archie Daniel (1-19) and Harry Paterson (1-78), the young Katamatite spinner rounded off a productive day with 6-29 from 31.1 overs.
Lukies’ mammoth spell included 18 maidens and cost just 0.93 runs per over.
It was enough to see the Saints all out for 169 off 73.1 overs.
Katamatite took up the willow after the innings break with Green (six from 19, not-out) and Oliver Mynard (1 from 21, not-out) getting things under way for the Tigers before stumps.
The Tigers will no doubt be looking to make serious headway when the second day of the contest arrives on Saturday, February 8.
