Lucknow continued its impressive start to the the Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) season, scoring its fourth win of the campaign against Paynesville at Hudson-Alvin Oval last Saturday in round seven action.
The Magpies are well placed in third on the ladder, trailing leader Lindenow South Glenaladale by a game while being a similar margin ahead of fourth and fifth-placed Wy Yung and Lakes Entrance.
Lucknow seems to have struck the correct balance between experience and youth, complemented by some overseas talent.
The Magpies won the toss and elected to bat, welcoming back, former BCA Cricketer of the Year, Adam Bull, to the line up.
Bull has played at Beaumaris and Ormond at sub district level in recent seasons after a successful district cricketer career at Dandenong and Prahran, which saw him play 218 matches, score 5500 runs, including six centuries.
In season 2019/2020 he made two centuries in first grade for Prahran, but there was no fairytale return on Saturday.
Exciting young Paynesville bowler Harper Clack (1/14) picked up the biggest wicket of his career thus far, Bull edging to Nathan Schoultz for a duck.
Myles Danaher went shortly after and when Rico Fourie (20) was bowled by Jake Keown (1/13), Lucknow were 3/31.
They got another mature innings from Mitchell Johnson (57 from 102), who combined well with Ayush Verma (20), Mitchell Clague (13) and Beau Haslam (29).
Johnson hit two boundaries and three sixes, helping his side reach 172, bowled out in the final over, losing wickets late looking for quick runs.
Campbell Holland (2/27) and Noah Bennett (2/24) were the multiple wicket takers for the Gulls.
The Gulls got off to the best possible start with Lachie Wilmott (45) and Schoultz (38) putting on 95 for the opening wicket in the first 20 overs.
But the introduction of young Archie Poore (5/16) claimed both openers in his first three balls and changed the course of the match.
The Gulls lost 10 wickets in 19 overs for the the addition of just 41 runs, Isaac Love (14) and Rodney Clack (10) getting the majority of those, Beau Haslam (3/27) cleaning up the tail.
Lucknow got home by 36 runs with six overs remaining, the Gulls well aware they let a winnable game slip.
Lucknow will enjoy a bye this week, while Paynesville and West Bairnsdale will both be trying to break two-game losing streaks at the Bairnsdale City Oval, hoping to bank some much-needed points and stay in touch with the top four.
