The Lakers, on the comeback trail after last season’s heart-breaking grand final loss, had an industrious spread of contributors throughout the order, with openers Tom Barnes and James Wilson putting on 61 runs.
Lodgers’ bowler Travis Waters eventually managed to sneak a delivery through Barnes’ defence after he walloped 39 off 22 balls, with Wilson (13) following soon after thanks to James Nugent.
Mark Nolan (17) and Mitch Winter-Irving (42) picked up where they left off last year to carry the Lakers to 2-117 at a reasonable clip, and looking ominous.
Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige and Ryan Kearney teamed up with the ball to remove both batters, but 41 runs to Zac Winter-Irving and an unbeaten 42 - at a strike rate above 100, no less - to Dale Short helped Nagambie tick past the 200-run mark.
Pine Lodge’s Nate Malcolm picked up three late wickets, restricting the Lakers to 8-238.
In reply, the Lodgers’ standout was obvious.
Hardy showcased his class with a gritty century on his Haisman Shield debut, smashing 105 off 132 deliveries and putting Pine Lodge within striking distance of a shock first-round upset.
However, time proved the enemy of the visitors.
Regular Nagambie wickets continued to stall the momentum, and while Hardy batted on to great effect, partnerships were hard to come by for the import, who was ultimately left to shoulder too much of the load.
Lakers stalwart Nolan led the bowling fightback, ending his afternoon with figures of 2-31, while Will O’Brien also picked up a pair to finish with 2-27.
Emile Haratbar with 27 runs and Xavier Waters with 22 not out were the next highest scorers after Hardy, and despite a gallant effort from the men in green, it was the Lakers that emerged victorious, restricting Pine Lodge to 7-218 to claim a 20-run victory.
Nagambie will look to make it two-from-two one-day matches this weekend when they host the recently crowned T20 champions Karramomus at Nagambie Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
THE GAME
Nagambie 8-238 (Dale Short 42 not out, Zac Winter-Irving 41, Nate Malcolm 3-22) def Pine Lodge 7-218 (Dylan Hardy 103, Emile Haratbar 27, Will O’Brien 2-27)
