Tatura’s failure to capitalise lands Nagambie win and bumps it up the ladder

By Liam Nash

Dec 3, 2023

Cleaned them up: Nagambie speedster Nathan Fothergill took six wickets against Tatura on Saturday. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Nagambie is proving itself king of the two-day format with yet another comprehensive display to move up into third on the Haisman Shield ladder.

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The Lakers snatched a 67-run win from Tatura’s clutches on Saturday, with Luke Nolan’s century setting the tone for their first innings, while Nathan Fothergill’s exceptional bowling sealed the match’s fate in their favour.

Tatura’s score sheet was littered with starts, but just one bat was raised during the 70.4 overs.

Chaz Cheatley was the lone Tatura talent to venture past 50, though Mathew Cornwall (39) and Lachlan Magee (34) weren’t far off the mark.

Heading back to Howley Oval for day two, the Bulldogs required 265 runs to win.

Preston Aurish was trapped leg before wicket for eight by Fothergill ― the first in a catalogue of wickets for the paceman ― but Tatura steadied and got past the 20th over mark at one down.

Magee was the next to go, this time by Mark Nolan’s industry, before Fothergill whipped one through Daniel Coombs’ gate and sent the player-coach packing on 22.

Blake Armstrong followed in quick succession as his dash between the wickets wasn’t timed well enough, and Rajvir Singh also went cheaply.

At 5-93, Tatura needed an anchor.

Cheatley was exactly that, sticking around for 40 overs while he and Cornwall chipped away at Nagambie’s total.

THE GAME

Nagambie 5-264 (Luke Nolan 106, Mitch Winter-Irving 47, Chaz Cheatley 2-22) d Tatura 197 (Chaz Cheatley 55, Mathew Cornwall 39, Nathan Fothergill 6-61)

STAR PLAYER

Luke Nolan (Nagambie): Nolan was superb on day one, carving a measured century which set the platform for a big Lakers total. He narrowly beats out teammate Nathan Fothergill, who was another of Nagambie’s sizzling talents.

The Bulldogs’ newbie finally met his end late in the afternoon as a misplaced shot found Mitch Winter-Irving’s hands and having smelt blood the Lakers wasted no time putting the rest of Tatura’s bats to the sword.

Nagambie took 4-26 after Cheatley’s dismissal to wrap up the match, with Fothergill’s spellbinding performance leaving the opposition struggling to find its footing.

His 6-61 underpinned a gritty team effort from the visitors, which gives Nagambie a 5-1 ledger, having only lost to flag fancy Waaia.

The Lakers’ last dance before Christmas is against Northerners, with a win surely placing Mark Nolan’s outfit into the top two conversation.