The potential finals campaigns of Meerlieu and St Mary’s Nagle look precariously placed after day one of their Bairnsdale Cricket Association round 14 fixture at the Meerlieu Cricket Ground.
The Saints still appear to have their destiny in their own hands if they can turn 3/33 at stumps into 149, which should be enough to book them a semi final berth unless West Bairnsdale can pull off an outright victory over Lakes Entrance.
The Tussocks will need maximum points if they are to get to finals action and that will require them to bowl the Saints out twice.
If Meerlieu was to claim the first inning points, Nagle would need to win on second innings if it was to progress.
There are plenty of possibilities and lots to play for as both sides take the field on day two.
The Tussocks were bowled out in the 70th over for 148, with their top five batsmen, Rohan Blandford (27), Reagan Kyle (13), Jay Peiris (41), Connor Mitchell and Ollie Simpson (27) all spending plenty of quality time in the middle but unable to capitalise on their starts against some disciplined bowling from the Saints.
Meerlieu looked well placed at 3/104, and with plenty of work to do at 5/138, but a paralysing spell from Jonny Lash, who took 6/51 from 28 overs, including a hat-trick, turned the game back in the favour of Nagle.
Lash picked up the final six wickets to fall, as only Simpson, whose 101-ball stint ended at 9/148 when he was caught and bowled by Lash, offered any real resistance in the Tussocks’ last hour at the crease.
All-rounder Harvey Spaxman continued his good second season as an import with Nagle taking 3/39.
Mitchell wrestled the Nagle advantage back late in the day, picking up 3/14 from his five overs.
Nathan Yarde was looking good at the top of the order for the Saints before he was bowled around his legs by Mitchell for eight.
Nagle skipper, Ricky Tatnell looked in ominous form, moving quickly to 20 off just 13 balls, being particularly fierce on anything that was dropped short.
The Saints will need big innings from Tatnell, Brayden McCarrey, Spaxman and the hard-hitting Ethan East if they are to continue their late season resurgence and claim a coveted finals berth.
There’s still plenty to play out in this fixture at the MCG this Saturday, before the semi final draw is decided.
