Nagambie was the victor in the semi-final, bundling the reigning premier out by 55 runs.
Echuca hadn’t been as strong as in years past, suffering five losses over the regular season, two each to the Lakers and Mooroopna and one to Rochester, compared to just two defeats to the Cats last season, and went into the contest as the lower seed at Nagambie Recreation Reserve.
The visitors won the toss and set Nagambie in, but the Lakers batters weren’t daunted by the occasion.
Star players Kayla Shepherd (35) and Kait Carracher (31) both retired not out, scoring at faster than a run a ball.
Breanna Davison (20 from 13) was also a useful contributor, finding the boundary four times.
Nagambie posted an intimidating total of 3-131 from its 20 overs, looking to be ahead in the game at the innings break.
The Echuca attack struggled to stem the flow of runs, Marli Hollamby (1-11) the most economical of the wicket takers, while Jessica Cox and Sophie Good also made breakthroughs.
Needing to score rapidly, the pressure got to Echuca in the early overs, Maisy Byrne the first casualty, run out after pushing the envelope too far on a quick single.
Chloe Moyle’s entrance at three provided a solid building block for Echuca, scoring 22 from 25 while her teammates failed to raise the run-rate.
No other batter could reach double figures, and when Moyle fell at 6-61 hope was quickly running out for the defending champion.
Breanna Davison cleaned out the tail in the final over, ending Echuca’s innings at 76 with three wickets in the over, including a run-out for the final wicket on the last ball.
Davison (2-15) was one of three Nagambie bowlers to take two scalps; Shepherd and Carracher joining her.
Nagambie will fight for the title against unbeaten Mooroopna on Sunday at Cooma Recreation Reserve after the Cats dispatched Shepparton Youth Club United by nine wickets in the other semi-final.
The first ball is set to be bowled at 11am on Sunday.
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