Trower five-for has Bombers flying towards finals

Now, following a reviving round 10 victory, a treacherous Will Trower spell with the Kookaburra on Saturday, and a Kyabram-Tatura match half an hour north looking favourably for the Bombers, the title defence could still be alive come the post-season.

The equation was simple for Waaia this round.

Win to be in.

And after a destructive day one in the field, finals is within reach.

Nagambie won the toss and elected to bat, but a three-ball duck for Tom Barnes placed immediate warning signs on the innings to come for the Lakers.

The Bombers restricted Nagambie’s run scoring, holding the Lakers to a run rate of 1.57 before the second wicket fell, with a gritty 14 off 40 for Brayden Biggs ending with an edge to Brayden Carey behind the stumps.

Will and Jesser Trower would reel in the top order and middle order for peanuts, dismissing Dale Short (18), Mitchell Winter-Irving (eight), and Mark Nolan (12), while Zac Winter-Irving acted as the resistance.

However, the Trowers would continue to cause carnage, Will extracting the wickets of James Wilson and Jonathan Moore for four and a seven-ball duck, before Jordan Cleeland had his say, claiming the final three wickets, including Winter-Irving (52) with a classy caught and bowled, ending Nagambie’s innings on 117 after 61.4 overs.

That handed Waaia 15 overs to make a start on chasing the Lakers’ low total, and while a couple blemishes were made, the Bombers are well on track to completing its late bolt for March action.

Damien Atkins and Jordan Cleeland produced a steady start before Atkins edged a James Lloyd delivery, which was followed by a four-ball duck for bowling wizard Will Trower, trapped LBW by Lloyd.

Lloyd’s figures sit at 2-0 after two overs with the Kookaburra, and continuing such havoc will be key if the Lakers are to turn around the position they currently stand in on day two.

Waaia’s Jamie Riley ensured his position at the crease was in tact by stumps, facing seven balls without a run while Cleeland walked off unbeaten with 11 to his name, Waaia at 2-32.

Just 86 runs are required next week for the Bombers, the flag defence as alive as ever, but as a finalist itself, Nagambie still has the potential to swing this game around - albeit it requires a herculean effort.