Following an hour behind the start time of the Tatura and Central Park-St Brendan’s clash out west was Pine Lodge doing battle with Shepparton Youth Club United at Lemnos.
It quickly became a day of individual feats after the winless host elected to set the pace on offence, with visiting skipper Sam Nash stamping some early authority by removing opener Liam Trevaskis for a 13-ball duck.
As Nash delivered dime after dime, it was Max Henderson who claimed the critical scalp of import Emile Haratbar — but the focus would then turn to a true one-on-one duel.
With his side in a hole, Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige turned the volume up on Pine Lodge’s run rate with a terrifically explosive display.
He was undoubtedly the man to catch before long, with Nash already having done significant damage to the Lodgers’ upper crust — but finding himself lacking the answers as a strong-armed half-century threatened to turn the tide.
No fewer than 12 fours and two sixes later, Hettige’s destructive innings worth 79 was finally stopped by the man of the hour in Nash, but the momentum had carried forth into what looked a seriously competitive score for the bottom side.
It was a magnificent seven from Nash which defined the day, though, as he moved his season tally to 20 poles for the season in helping set his side a victory target of 196.
That’s not to say the combine had it all its own way when stumps were called, though.
THE GAME
Pine Lodge 195 (Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige 79, Hayden Cann 20, Sam Nash 7-30) leads Shepparton Youth Club United 3-30 (Steven Tate 15, Cooper Adkins 1-1, Ryan Kearney 1-4) by 165 runs
Pine Lodge’s bowling stocks — in particular, Tiron Fernando — have been known to step up and pop a surprise or two.
They went on their way with the last of Saturday’s play to set up a genuine coin-toss state of play heading into next weekend’s resolution, popping up with three handy wickets to leave the combine 165 adrift.
Arguably, one could contend this looks like the Lodgers’ strongest chance yet of earning a breakthrough maiden Haisman Shield victory, with dangerous openers Steven Tate and Jake Callow no longer a factor in the equation.
Reigning Lightfoot medallist Rehan Bari will start day two fresh and ready at the crease, however, alongside Seb Menzhausen as the chase continues.
