Haisman Shield | Gallery | Waaia blitzes Old Students to shore up top-six spot

After winning the toss and batting first, Waaia made its way to 181, powered by a captain’s knock of 41 from Mitch Cleeland.

With the ball in hand, the Bombers then set about dismantling the Old Students’ batting line-up on their way to an important victory.

Waaia’s Brayden Summerville and Jesse Trower took three wickets apiece as Students were all out for 96 – well short of the required total.

Cleeland said it was a significant result for his side, with the Bombers only earning one victory from their previous three games heading into Saturday’s clash.

“It was a good win, it was something we needed to have,” Cleeland said.

“We needed a good win just to get a bit of confidence back among everyone, we have been a bit inconsistent with our performances.

“We set ourselves up in a really good situation again with the bat. We knew that if we bowled well that there was enough in the wicket for us to be able to get a win.”

Batting first, Waaia’s Sam Trower (31) and Brenton Low (22) combined for an opening partnership of 52 to get the Bombers off to a strong start.

Contributions of 16 from Jordan Cleeland and 22 from Summerville kept the momentum going, but it was Mitch Cleeland who was the main man with the willow.

Waaia’s captain top scored with 41 from 55 deliveries, serving as the backbone of his side’s innings as he led it past the 100-mark.

The skipper was eventually sent back to the sheds after he was clean bowled by Liam Callegari, one of his three wickets on the day.

The Bombers tacked on another 18 runs before they were eventually all out for 181, with Callan McCabe also taking three wickets for Old Students.

Chasing a sizeable score, Students’ run chase got off to a rough start.

Opening bat Manindergit Singh was out for a duck on the second ball of the innings and, when fellow opener Sam O’Brien was dismissed for three shortly after, the pressure was well and truly on.

Defiant knocks of 23 and 24 from Josh Robertson and Felix Odell kept Students in the contest at 3-69, but Waaia soon delivered a hammer blow.

Summerville and Jordan Cleeland blitzed through the Students’ middle order, combining to take 5-9 in six overs – including a stretch of four wickets for one run – to have Students at 8-78.

“They were going along steadily enough, but as soon as we got a few of their older guys out, with a young side, if you can stick to a consistent line and length and not let the kids get away, it makes it very hard for them,” Cleeland said.

“We tried to keep as much pressure as we could on them and it paid off for us. Everyone stuck to the plan and structures and the rest looked after itself.”

The final two wickets came shortly after, with Waaia picking up a comfortable – and significant – victory that also earned it a bonus point.

With Waaia sitting in sixth spot and a tricky match against Nagambie coming up, Cleeland said it was a win his side had to have.

“It is massive. If we had dropped that one, it would have made the finals race a lot harder for us,” he said.

“We have three important games coming up, Nagambie at Nagambie next week will be a massive test for us again.

“So to get that one it gives us a little buffer on a few sides and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and put a late season charge in.”

Meanwhile for Old Students, finals cricket now looks to be out of reach.

Students are in ninth spot on the ladder, but are now 14 points behind Waaia with three rounds left to play.