Numurkah's Connor McLeod charges in.
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Sandra Michalitsis
Numurkah has leaped into the Haisman Shield top six after dispatching a gallant Pine Lodge by five wickets at Lemnos Reserve, making it two wins on the spin and positioning themselves nicely ahead of the red-ball rounds.
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Blues talisman Dylan Grandell raised the bat for the second time in as many games, while Matt Cline’s stifling four-wicket haul earned a momentum-generating triumph over the Lodgers.
And bowling first, Numurkah’s tight line and length proved the difference.
Cline took the new ball and didn’t give an inch in his allotted nine overs, the Numurkah captain snaring 4-17 to keep the clamps on the Pine Lodge batting line-up.
Pine Lodge's Travis Knight goes for the pull shot.
Photo by
Sandra Michalitsis
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Pine Lodge duo Travis Knight and Liam Trevaskis scamper through for a run.
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Sandra Michalitsis
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Numurkah's James Pruden fields the ball.
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Sandra Michalitsis
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Pine Lodge captain Liam Trevaskis hits through the leg side.
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Sandra Michalitsis
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Numurkah teammates check on James Pruden.
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Sandra Michalitsis
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Numurkah's Connor McLeod lets rip.
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Sandra Michalitsis
First change seamer Connor McLeod (2-18) did the damage up top with the wickets of Travis Knight and Ryan Kearney, but the Lodgers fightback via skipper Liam Trevaskis and Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige saw the home side inch toward a defendable total.
The pair combined for a valuable 33-run partnership before Mitch Grandell knocked over Hettige for 28, the change to spin proving effective on the Lemnos deck with Blues youngster Kyren Dawson sending top scorer Trevaskis back to the sheds an over later.
Cline’s returned to the attack yielded a further three wickets, but Pine Lodge staged a resistance through Xavier Waters (22 not out) and Nate Malcolm (10 not out) to post 8-153.
Despite an early wicket, Numurkah was never stunted in its run chase.
Dylan Grandell raised the bat for the second time in as many games while recruit Isaac Chandler crafted his highest score in his new colours, tipping in 40 runs as the Blues chased the total in the 30th over.
Ryan Kearney claimed three wickets for Pine Lodge, but it wouldn’t be enough to prevent the Blues walking away with a win.
Numurkah will be hoping to carry its momentum into next round’s two-day clash against Shepparton-Youth Club United, while the Lodgers will host Old Students as they continue to hunt a long-awaited win.
THE GAME
Numurkah 5-154 (Dylan Grandell 57, Isaac Chandler 40, Ryan Kearney 3-19) def Pine Lodge 8-153 (Liam Trevaskis 34, Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige 28, Matt Cline 4-17)
STAR PLAYER
Dylan Grandell (Numurkah): It’s back-to-back raises for the star Blues batter, crafting a brisk 57 off 61 deliveries to make it a relatively easy run chase for his side.
