Despite both teams not going to figure in 2024/25 Bairnsdale Cricket Association finals action, Paynesville and Lucknow still have plenty to play for when round 14 resumes this Saturday at AJ Freeman Reserve in Paynesville.
Both teams have recorded four wins for the season, with Paynesville sitting in seventh spot on the table and Lucknow eighth.
With Orbost likely to score an outright victory over an ailing Metung Swan Reach, the winner of the clash at Paynesville will finish seventh and the loser a disappointing ninth.
The Gulls won the toss and sent the Magpies in, knocking them over for 196 in the 49th over.
At 4/139 after Rico Fourie (48 from 52 balls), Harvey Abraham (29 from 31), Mitchell Johnson (33) and Luke Hedger (28) all got starts, Lucknow would have been disappointed with the final outcome.
They will take some solace in that their next generation of stars (Abraham and Johnson), batted in the key number three and four spots and made significant contributions for teenagers.
Beau Haslam contributed a vital 26 late, as the Magpies collapsed with the multi-talented Nathan Schoultz again in the game picking up 5/35, well supported by Jordan Hegarty who bagged 3/32.
In reply Paynesville made its way to 5/118 at stumps, with Lachie Wilmott (37) and Schoultz (46 from 43) leading the way.
From a game perspective, Lucknow will head into day two with a slight advantage given Schoultz is back in the shed.
But with plenty on the line, expect a solid rearguard action from the determined Paynesville who have played some good cricket since the Christmas break, including last round when they claimed the scalp of ladder leader at the time, Lakes Entrance.
Isaac Love was the pick of the bowlers for Lucknow (3/28).
