Lucknow held on to defeat Meerlieu in
a tight Bairnsdale Cricket Association
round four fixture at Hudson-Alvin Oval last Saturday.
The win was the Magpies’ second for the season, and although they sit sixth on the ladder, they are on the same points as third-placed Paynesville.
The Tussocks were hoping to get a fairytale victory for veteran Reagan Kyle, who joined Rohan Blandford in the 200 club, but it wasn’t to be, the club still chasing its maiden victory this campaign.
Lucknow won the toss and batted and were in all sorts of trouble at 5/28 after Simon Hunter (2/17) and Connor Mitchell (3/16) worked through the top and middle order.
Skipper Jarryd Floyd batted superbly making a match-winning 61 from 103, including four boundaries and another six, as the Tussocks’ bowling depth was
again tested with Mitchell restricted to just nine overs.
Floyd formed solid allegiances, despite suffering a hamstring injury, with Beau Haslam (four from 39) and Archer Watt (29 not out from 46 balls), before he was finally dismissed with the score on 119, the ninth wicket to fall.
A valuable final wicket unison between Watt and young Ayrton Corben (13), taking the score to 141 with two balls left in the innings, only a run out breaking the partnership.
In the context of the game that partnership would be pivotal.
In reply, Meerlieu had a number of players get a starts, but no one was able to dominant the bowling.
Blandford (22), Kyle (10), Mitchell (19), Mehal Jirage (14 not out), Hunter (10) and Shrader Hicks (14) all worked hard but were either cut down when looking to prosper, ran out of partners or where literally run out.
Again it was a late order partnership that kept the match alive, Hicks and Jirage adding 26 for the final wicket, the partnership, like the Lucknow equivalent, broken by a disastrous run out (the second of the innings), when an unlikely victory was
looking possible.
The Tussocks were dismissed 18 short with eight overs still remaining to be bowled.
Haslam was the star for the Magpies with the ball taking 5/23, working through the middle order in an inspired spell.
Lucknow will resume hostilities with Lakes Entrance this week, two sides that always have a close and competitive contests.
Key imports Fourie and Verma will both be keen to bounce back after not troubling the scorers last week, which will keep the Seagulls on their toes.
Meerlieu will welcome Lindenow South Glenaladale to the MCG this week in a clash that looks a mismatch on current form, but if Blandford, Kyle or Mitchell can get going maybe they could be competitive.
The problem for the Tussocks is that Bulls co-captain Haydn Erfurth is due to go big after scoring just seven runs in three innings this season.
