By peeling off a stack of runs in 91 overs of pure, unadulterated carnage, of course.
Nagambie hit a Ronnie Coleman-esque flex in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield on Saturday, cranking a season-best team total of 8-333 against Tatura in what was essentially batting practice in the final home and away game of the campaign.
Tatura, having only mustered 110 on day one and needing nine wickets to win with only 23 runs to play with, entered day two with its finals hopes dangling.
However, when stumps were uprooted, Nagambie wasn’t the only side celebrating.
Outside results have confirmed the Bulldogs’ entry into finals for the first time in what has seemed like an age and, despite a touch up from the Lakers in round 13, Daniel Coombs and co will feel more content than most after the loss.
Resuming at 1-87 on day two, James Auld and Luke Nolan took less than 15 overs to get the first innings points before Lachlan Magee removed the former five runs shy of a bat-raise.
Mitch Winter-Irving made a promising start, but was pulled up short on 29, then Mark Nolan became the first of Will Russell’s victims as he departed for 10.
His brother Luke met a similar end to his ‘Auld’ batting partner, with Russell snaring Nolan’s wicket for 45, and a rare break in the clouds arrived for Tatura when Russell snicked off Zac Winter-Irving the next ball to land himself on a hat-trick.
That’s right around when Tatura stopped smiling, however.
Towering pinch-hitter Jonathan Moore stepped up to the plate at eight, wasting no time leathering the ball to all ends of Howley Oval as he reached 50 in the blink of an eye.
Moore’s devil may care bat wielding knew no bounds and, at one point, it seemed like the Lakers’ late-order specialist was about to threaten the Haisman Shield record for the fastest century.
However, his electric cameo was eventually brought to a close, caught and bowled by Blake Armstrong on 95 off 67 balls — including eight fours and seven sixes.
James Wilson (32) was the last to go, also snared by Armstrong, and Nagambie walked off triumphant.
However, Tatura’s season is still intact and the Bulldogs are now tasked with heading to Deakin Reserve to take on a benchmark outfit in Central Park-St Brendan’s.
On the other hand, the Lakers have booked a home final and are set to face a Katandra side that snapped a form slump by beating Shepparton Youth Club United on Saturday.
THE GAME
Tatura 110 (Daniel Coombs 38, Blake Armstrong 17, Mark Nolan 5-50) lt Nagambie 8-333 (Jonathan Moore 95, Benjamin Tarran 53, Will Russell 3-46)
STAR PLAYER
Jonathan Moore (Nagambie): After Moore’s boundary hailstorm, we’re glad Howley Oval doesn’t have easy parking access close to the ropes. This was T20 batting at its best, disguised in a two-day format.
