Win and stay with the pack or falter and be at risk of falling behind.
Though nails were down to the nubs at the death, it was the former exacted by the Shepparton side as it held on for a thin nine-run triumph in the Campaspe Shire.
Stepping up to bat first, United stormed out to 3-104 from its 20 overs and forced a raft of bowling changes from BLU which largely came to no avail.
Though the visitors had BLU in hot water early as its first four bats were sent packing for single digits, Jess Cox arrived at the crease with other ideas.
The middle-order maestro compiled 49 not out and, supported by Jada Bover (27), almost marshalled BLU to its first win of the season in stunning fashion.
However, it wasn’t to be as United squeezed the life out of the host’s chances late to see BLU fall agonisingly short of the mark.
The round’s other game was just as gripping as Echuca held on for a six-run win over Leitchville-Gunbower.
Delaney Laffy’s sterling unbeaten 42 carried the Murray Bombers to 3-124, but when it came to restricting L-G’s openers, Echuca had a torrid time of it.
Macey Brereton and Taylor Hird creamed six boundaries on the way to form a 49-run partnership at the top of the order, and Zazney Elwood continued on at third drop to post 19 before being run out.
But L-G soon took the foot off the pedal, and was left stranded on 4-118 at the end of its innings.
In B-grade, Kyabram Fire Brigade posted a 93-run win over Echuca to go top of the table while rival Kyabram keeps pace after beating Nathalia on its home track.
And it was ecstasy for Kyabram Fire Brigade again in the Youth Girls division, with both outfits scalping wins on Friday night.
8°C