A mesmerising hat-trick from Central Park-St Brendan’s bowler Haris Hassan had spectators on their feet at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday, as the Tigers went down to a high-flying Northerners outfit in round 13 of the Cricket Shepparton Clyde Young Shield.
Hassan let the ball do the talking in a dazzling seven-over spell, cleaning up three Jets wickets to have the home side stuttering in its chase of 138.
However, his heroics were not enough to silence the cool-headed Jets batters.
Late order knocks from Tim Brett (35) and starlet Jake Davidson (19) gifted back some momentum, before skipper Glen Davidson (18) stayed calm to steer Northerners home in a nail-biting last-wicket stand.
A superb five-wicket haul from Tatura’s Ben Andonoudis has ensured his side remains in finals contention, the Bulldogs rolling Numurkah in a dominant 91-run drubbing.
After posting an impressive 176, Tatura was lethal in reply, Andonoudis leading the charge in toppling the Blues for 85 after 30.4 overs.
A batting and bowling masterclass from Karramomus’ Luke Sibley guided the Bloods to a comprehensive dismantling of Shepparton United in the clash of second and third.
Sibley stayed unbeaten in the first innings to manufacture 87, steering Karramomus to a dominant 207-run total.
But it didn’t end there for the Bloods’ main man, taking the game to United with ball in hand as well to notch five United wickets while costing just four runs; a sublime all-round performance.
Pine Lodge secured a resounding win at Lemnos, besting Old Students by 134 runs.
Nagambie went down to Euroa in a clash of the cellar-dwellers, the Magpies clinching an eight-wicket win thanks to a dazzling five-wicket haul from Jet Trotter.
Kyabram got the job done at Waaia courtesy of Beau Metcalf’s four-wicket spell, while Mooroopna got up in its clash with Katandra, escaping with an exhilarating one-wicket win to round out Clyde Young Shield action.
In Jim McGregor Shield, Travis Guppy guided Karramomus to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Tatura, the Bloods batter continuing his blistering form with the blade to finish on an unbeaten 70 runs.
In a high-scoring affair between Murchison and Undera the Lions clinched important points to sneak into fifth.
Ben Twynstra (68) and Dylan Baker (47) hacked the Hoppers to a formidable 180, but the Lions proved fearless in reply, finding the runs with an over to spare.
Rick Heathcote and Jake Dryden led the chase for Undera, finishing on 50 and 43 respectively.
High-flying Invergordon got the job done at Tatura Park to widen the gap at the top, while Pine Lodge picked up what could prove to be a massive win at Euroa, besting the Magpies in a narrow two-wicket triumph.
Central Park-St Brendan’s gave second-placed Mooroopna a run for its money in the final match; a Daniel Emmi (4-22) bowling blitz helping his side to a win by the narrowest of margins, as the Tigers fell five runs shy.