Pine Lodge punched by Petherick pace after defiant Tatura tail frustrate

The result?

A 102-run win for the away side, and a top-two spot on the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield ladder after the opening fortnight of one-day matches.

But it wasn’t always set to be a mammoth victory.

Two-thirds through the opening innings, Pine Lodge had Tatura teetering on the edge of an early finish, sitting at 6-123 after 30 overs, the entire top order back in the changerooms.

If there was ever a time for a captain’s knock, it was at that moment Tatura’s odds hung precariously.

Fortunately, skipper Jayden Armstrong was next in line.

The Tatura skipper made his stride out to the centre, punched gloves with Nick Watt, before delivering a game-changing onslaught.

Armstrong smoked 13 boundaries, including consecutive sky-high hooks over the rope for six in the final over, combining with Watt, Petherick and Baxter Plunkett for 110 runs off the final 15 overs to lift Tatura to 8-233.

It was a soul crushing turn in momentum for the Lodgers, who just couldn’t find the answer to Armstrong after ripping through the upper order.

“It was a bit of a tricky wicket, we had a quick start but they just kept pegging us back with wickets regularly,” Tatura coach Daniel Coombs said.

“It was pretty difficult to get yourself in, but Jayden made it look like he was batting on a different wicket really, played with a bit of licence and just hit the ball so cleanly.”

The Lodgers’ day would go from bad to worse once the pads were on too.

Emile Haratbar would be sent packing by Petherick for a golden duck, before round one centurion Dylan Hardy would fall a couple overs later, leaving Pine Lodge at 2-7.

Hayden Cann and Liam Trevaskis settled the sinking ship somewhat, but the 29-run stabilising display was interrupted by Petherick who dismissed Cann for 18, before Plunkett waved off Trevaskis for 11, placing Pine Lodge at 4-40.

A collapse of 3-10 ensued after the top order pair left the crease, with yet another two wickets provided by Petherick’s persistent line and length.

Pine Lodge’s tail end provided some resistance to get a score of over triple-figures, but they ultimately capitulated by the 33rd over, all out for 102 as Petherick starred until the end.

“I thought the wicket suited him (Jess Petherick),” Coombs said.

“He got their big players out, their two English guys out.

“The wicket suited him, there was that extra bounce, and with his height he got it at the right length to cause some problems.”

Tatura now sits second on the Haisman Shield table, while Pine Lodge is second-last with a winless start to this summer’s campaign.

Tatura will play another unbeaten outfit in Karramomus next week in what is a blockbuster challenge to each side’s finals credentials, while Pine Lodge has an opportunity to record its first win against Mooroopna, which is 1-1 but has struggled with the bat to start the season.