Bairnsdale Cricket Association “A” grade newcomers Metung Swan Reach and Paynesville locked horns in an important round three make-up clash last Sunday at AJ Freeman to ensure the season runs smoothly.
And it was the Swans who earned bragging rights, beating the Gulls by one wicket with three balls to spare, earning the club its first “A” grade premiership points.
Chasing 154 for victory, Metung Swan Reach needed eight runs for victory when Forhad Haque’s game changing innings of 39 from 60 balls ended.
Brendan Gallus and Jordan Hack were tasked with pushing for victory as the Gulls looked to swoop.
The Swans duo took three runs from the 44th over bowled Judah May, cutting the deficit to five runs.
Showing no signs of pressure, Hack danced down the wicket to the first ball of the final over bowled by leg spinner Rhy McNaaughton, carving it through the covers for a boundary to level the scores.
Two balls later he hooked a ball behind square leg for the winning runs.
Earlier Paynesville’s batting performance delivered an even spread of contributors with Brayden Radford (32 off 51), Nathan Schoultz (30 off 41), Luke Bond (26 off 40) and Caleb Marsh (31no off 46) all showing class as they led their side to 154.
Mark Hopgood, Brendan Gallus and Hywell Nichols all claimed thee wickets for the Swans.
Nathan Yarde, Jacob Hurry and Hopgood all got starts for the Swans in reply, but it was the lower order hitting of Haque, who found the boundary twice and cleared the rope twice, which kept Metung Swan Reach in the game after it slumped to 6/92.
Bond, Radford and Jake Keown all picked up two wickets for the Gulls.
