While a tepid opening showing with the bat had them looking slightly toothless in their Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield two-day affair against Numurkah, the Lakers’ nucleus powered up to knock them towards a decent total on day one.
Sitting at 9-206 at stumps, the home side is well out of the woods.
However, if not for a savoury display from the middle order, the Lakers could have been staring at a two-digit score to defend against an up-and-about Blues unit.
Nagambie won the toss and elected the bat but was made to rue the call early as Riley Dawson trapped James Auld for two runs in the fourth over.
Usually impenetrable opener Luke Nolan followed suit no less than 10 overs later as he walked for 11, and fellow senior figure Mitch Winter-Irving (four) joined him in the sheds before drinks.
But as he’s done time and time again, Mark Nolan arrived with the goods.
Nagambie’s captain courageous joined Ben Tarran in the middle and crafted the 25 overs of solidarity the Lakers so desperately craved, and though the latter left for 21, James Wilson stepped up to continue the crusade.
Nolan was stopped by Matt Cline five runs short of a tempered half-century, but Wilson stuck around to the end and ensured his name remained in red ink as he finished on 55 not out at stumps.
Zac Winter-Irving’s 37-run cameo was also influential, with batters five, six and seven accounting for two-thirds of Nagambie’s total.
Cline proved to be Numurkah’s chief wicket taker as he rounded out the day with 4-48, while Tim Arnel chimed in with another classy bowling performance to walk off with 3-48.
The Blues sit fifth on the Haisman Shield ladder, meaning a successful run chase is paramount if they are to exorcise the last-day demons of the 2023-24 season and steer into finals.
Meanwhile, Nagambie is out to hold firm and cement its spot in second to secure a favourable draw when March rolls around.
THE GAME
Nagambie 9-206 (James Wilson 55*, Mark Nolan 45, Matt Cline 4-48) leads Numurkah
