Great Lakes C-grade cricket players took on a confident Wingham side that have won their last two games and were building a winning run in the competition over the last few weeks, and Lakes were clearly their next target.
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Captain Julius Schilpzand got Lakes off on the right foot by winning the toss and electing to bat first.
It was clear from the onset that bowling and fielding were the focus of the day and the batsman were all going to struggle throughout the day.
Lakes’ opening pair of Scott Orchard and Nathan Ballard found the going tough and Ballard was out in the second over followed by James McBride not long after.
The pattern continued with Lakes’ wickets falling every 10 runs.
It wasn’t until experienced all-rounder Nick Montague strode out to the middle feeling like Australian Captain Steve Smith thinking how was he going to save this team innings and restore the Lakes’ team pride.
Montague started building an innings based on 1s and 2s taking advantage of a field set deep allowing Montague the chance to show his speed and agility across the pitch.
Time and time Montague watched five batting partners come and go, unable to keep up the with running the quick singles and defending the accurate swing bowling from Wingham.
Montague finished on 33 runs which was top score for the Lakes side. Other batsman to get a start were Orchard 16, Justin Burns 10 and Allan May 12 not out.
Lakes stumbled through to finish on 10/102 a target that almost impossible to defend.
Schilpzand steadied the team with an inspirational captain’s speech and led his players out to the middle.
In the very first ball of the day from Seb Strong, Wingham batsman Bruce Baird hit what he thought was a single but in close fielder Cameron Thies swooped on the ball and had it back to the stumps with Scott Orchard taking the bails off to have Wingham 1/0 off one ball.
Lakes opening bowlers of Seb Strong and Nathan Ballard were inspired and each bowled eight overs straight. Strong bowled three maidens and finished with figures of 1/19.
Ballard not to be outdone bowled two maidens and finished on 0/17.
Lakes were nicely building pressure when the experienced pair of Allan May and Matt Watters took the ball continued to turn the screws.
May bowled tight and accurate finishing with 1/19 off eight overs straight including three maidens. Watters bowled 1/21 off six overs.
The stage was now set for an epic finish with Wingham needing 27 runs off 60 balls and four wickets in hand which should have been an easy task.
Montague and James McBride had other ideas.
Both men bowled superbly, and the fielders turned the pressure back onto Wingham with a run out.
McBride bowled controlled pace sending down four amazing overs to be 3/6 with two maidens.
Montague bowled 1/10 off six overs and was the perfect foil for McBride.
Lakes showed real grit bowled Wingham out for 92 runs.
In the field Ballard took three catches and Captain Schilpzand inspired his team with an acrobatic display of diving and throwing himself around the field trying to spur his men to victory.
The win was a real team effort and keeps Lakes in second place on the table.
