St Mary’s Nagle has confirmed its place in the 2024/25 Bairnsdale Cricket Association finals series with a dramatic reverse outright win over Meerlieu at the Meerlieu Cricket Ground last Saturday.
The six points gained was enough to see the Saints finish one point ahead of reigning premier West Bairnsdale, who beat premiership contender Lakes Entrance outright to keep their finals dream alive, but it was thwarted by the Saints late in the day.
The Saints resumed at 3/33 in chase of the Tussocks’ first innings score of 149, but they were quickly in trouble with the constant fall of wickets, their chances looking forlorn at 8/87.
But a 41-run unison for the ninth wicket between Brayden McCarrey (40) and Reece Carstairs (11) gave the chase a heart beat, but when McCarrey was bowled by Connor Mitchell (7/58), Nagle was 21 short, its finals dream in tatters.
Des Frew picked up 2/22 for the Tussocks in an impressive display, while Saints skipper Ricky Tatnell (30) and all rounder Harvey Spaxman (17) made contributions with the bat in a low total for Nagle.
Opinions differed on what course the match would take after the demise of Nagle, but Tussocks skipper Rohan Blandford was keen to push on in search of outright points and make a play for an unlikely late finals opening.
Several of the Nagle players were disappointed with the result and not overly keen to continue the agony, but their spirits were quickly lifted.
Meerlieu was keen to push the score along and set a total for Nagle to chase, hopeful they could knock them over in a run chase late in the day.
The Saints struck gold early when the dangerous Jay Peiris (7) was caught at point after an outstanding catch from Carstairs off Spaxman.
Only Mitchell (19) and Dan Richardson (13) reached double figures as the Tussocks crumbled for just 66 in less than 20 overs.
Several of the early batsmen fell trying to keep the scoreboard moving but the tail capitulated way too easy as Tatnell (5/31) and Spaxman (5/33) capitalised on the carnage.
Remarkably the Saints had another attempt to secure a finals spot, requiring 86 from 30 overs to achieve what looked unlikely two hours prior.
This time they didn’t make a mess of it with Nathan Yarde (25), Spaxman (19) and Tatnell (30 not out) all taking their time, the Saints home with eight wickets in hand and eight overs remaining,
Meerlieu left lamenting and West Bairnsdale not believing its lack of luck.
