One of two Saturday morning kick-offs presented the home Lakers with an opportunity to put their feet up early.
This was not just because of the club’s Ladies Day later that evening, but with the possibility of automatically qualifying for the Haisman’s one-day final next Sunday without having to worry about other results.
Coming off an utterly dominant showing at the expense of Old Students, it was hardly a surprise that the visiting Bombers elected to have first crack with the willow, but it was clear before long we were in for no repeat of those exploits.
Dismissals of Jordan Cleeland and Brayden Carey three balls apart by Nagambie skipper Mark Nolan quickly put things in disarray for a Waaia side still needing to play catch-up on the table.
Agonisingly short of a mathematical chance in the one-day stakes, the Lakers never truly let their adversaries off the hook despite captain Mitch Cleeland looking to spin fortunes around off his own bat.
His knock of 36 was valiant with three fours and a maximum, but the support around him eroded quickly in a showing ever so distant from the ruthlessness displayed against Old Students.
It was his opposite skipper in Nolan who provided his undoing courtesy of a run out, and from there, much of the damage was left to Brayden Biggs to inflict.
Biggs would run roughshod with four poles of his own as the Bombers lost their last four for just 11 to set a victory target of 104.
The Trower boys, Will and the ever-dangerous Jesse, had a good look at Nagambie’s openers but it was the former doing the damage in removing Jonathan Moore and Zac Winter-Irving.
Once Mark Nolan was unlocked, though, the rest was history as he provided the steadying presence necessary to make this all academic.
His unbeaten 59 made simple work of the maths: Nagambie cruised home to a six-wicket win, solidifying finals credentials as well as guaranteeing access to the one-day decider, later confirmed as hosts.
THE GAME
Nagambie 4-104 (Mark Nolan 59*, Will Trower 2-25, Mitch Cleeland 1-14) defeated Waaia 103 (Mitch Cleeland 36, Damien Atkins 24, Brayden Biggs 4-19)
STAR PLAYER
Brayden Biggs (Nagambie): An electric showing on home soil from a man who seems to make Nagambie’s deck work for him unlike almost anyone else. Biggs was simply instrumental in putting the muzzle on an offence-friendly Waaia side.
Zac Winter-Irving was satisfied with the workmanlike performance.
“It was a good start to the day with the early wickets, and it began to flow throughout the day from there,” Winter-Irving said.
“It was huge for our first change bowlers to back up our openers, and Brayden was really handy in setting up the day.
“Limiting their scoring options early to build pressure on them was crucial and the fielding team backed up the bowlers really well to keep it a low score, then it was a great effort by the skipper to carry the bat and lead the way for everyone.
“It’s pretty important to get the body right for two days of cricket (next weekend), so we’ll look after them to bring our best cricket.”
