A collapse late in the day by Lindenow South Glenaladale has left the door ajar for Lucknow to strengthen their hold on third place on the Bairnsdale Cricket Association (BCA) “A” grade ladder.
The sides’ round 14, two-day fixture was moved from the Glenaladale Recreation to the Lindenow Recreation Reserve with the former being used by helicopters fighting the Dargo fires.
The Bulls currently sit second on the ladder, with a victory taking them back to the top of the table, with Wy Yung having a bye this round.
The Bulls looked set for a huge score, tracking along nicely at 4/204 in the 64th over with Luke Schumann (94) and Haydn Erfurth (22) at the crease, but the Magpies dislodged both within six balls, triggering a dramatic collapse with the home side all out for 225 in the 72nd over.
Lucknow lost Joshua Ward for a golden duck in the final eight overs, as they closed at stumps on 1/13 with Mitchell Clague and Luke Hedger not out at stumps.
Scott Davidson was again prominent for the Bulls, making 37 and taking the wicket of Ward.
He shared in a 72-run partnership with Schumann, who also added 78 with Sam Howden, who toiled hard for 29 off 78 balls before he was cleverly stumped by Hedger off the bowling of import Rico Fourie.
The story of the day was Schumann’s innings, the classy left-hander, facing 178 balls and hitting 11 boundaries, before being caught and bowled by Fourie when a century looked to be there for the taking.
The destroyers with the ball for the Magpies were Fourie, who took 5/42 from 15 overs, and Ward, who finished with 4/30 from 14 overs, both making light work of the Bulls’ tail.
An interesting day two beckons, with the Bulls the obvious match favourites, given they usually find a way to get the job done and they will be strengthened by the inclusion of all-rounder, Seth Smith.
But Lucknow have been genuine improvers this season, though concerning is the fact that they have only one score of 200 this season; in comparison, the Bulls have five.
They will need significant contributions from skipper Jarryd Floyd, Fourie, the hard-hitting Ayush Verma and young gun Mitchell Johnson.
