The Lakers, chasing Katandra’s under-par score of 161 on day two of the penultimate Cricket Sheparton Haisman Shield round, were in little danger of losing in the 47th over of play on Saturday
Poised at 7-147, a few quick singles paired with the odd boundary would take them across the line.
But that’s far from what happened.
Cue Jono Moore, who clubbed three sixes in a 20-run over to surge Nagambie to victory, ditching the bubble-wrapped, careful approach and instead opting for the brute strength route.
Earlier in the day, the Lakers resumed their innings on 3-43 with Mark Nolan and William Ulrich at the crease - though the latter wouldn’t hang around for long.
Corey Hickford struck early as he removed Ulrich for a two-ball duck, rousing battle cries from a Katandra side keen to hamper Nagambie’s finals chances.
However, experienced heads prevailed as Nolan was joined at the crease by fellow gun all-rounder Mitch Winter-Irving.
The duo extinguished Katandra’s fire during 17 overs of stability, cobbling together a crucial 91-run partnership that finished with Winter-Irving being trapped LBW by Hickford on 47 off 52 balls.
Brother Zac Winter-Irving came and went for one, and when Hickford rattled Nolan’s stumps an over later for 44, all of a sudden, the Eagles had a lifeline.
With only 20 runs to protect and three wickets needed, Katandra had to be clinical.
What they didn’t need was a big hitting machine like Moore to start whacking them out of the park like he was trying to win a super over, let a lone a crucial two-day contest.
His trio of maximums lifted Nagambie to victory, batting on to reach 42 off 29 balls before Grant Hutchins - the man he’d sent over the ropes three overs earlier - outfoxed him.
Hickford also snared another pole as Nagambie finished on 198, completing his five-wicket haul to complement his half century on day one while Hutchins rounded out on 4-69.
Nagambie now stares down a must win final round game against Waaia, while Katandra will hope to end its campaign on a high, away to Karramomus.
THE GAME
Katandra 161 (Corey Hickford 50, Ryleigh Shannon 25, James Auld 4-32) def by Nagambie 198 (Mitch Winter-Irving 47, Mark Nolan 44, Corey Hickford 5-42)
STAR PLAYER
Corey Hickford (Katandra): There wasn’t much more Hickford could’ve done for his side over the past two weeks. He raised both bat and ball during the loss, furthering his reputation as a genuine all-rounder.
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