Leagues were the only side to defeat Exies this season, and they were able to pull off the feat again this weekend after a win in their day-night timed game at Exies No 1.
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It was a pink affair with Exies holding their pink stumps day to help raise money for the McGrath Foundation and were looking to continue their winning streak which stretched back to round two.
Leagues won the toss and elected to bat but were a wicket down early as Liam Greenaway (0) fell to the bowling of Marc Tucker (2/25).
Andrew Madden and Logan Matheson got their side back on track with a 23-run stand before Andy Arnold (2/29) picked up the wicket of Madden (10).
Matheson and Jimmy Binks were able to get their side to 50 before Logan (27), and Reece Matheson (0) along with Daniel Bozic (0) fell in quick succession to put their side in trouble at 5/53.
Binks and Leagues captain Paul Plummer were able to help their side recover from the stumble with a 38-run partnership before Binks (40) was clean bowled by Tom Spry.
Thanks to Plummer (23) and Babar Safdar’s (18) hitting in the later stages of the innings saw the Panthers finishes on 151 off 44 overs.
Knowing quick wickets were going to be key, Brent Hazelman and Plummer were able to have an immediate impact.
Plummer (2/16) was able to pick up Exies captain Phil Burge (4), and Jamie Winkler (0) before Hazelman pulled of a caught and bowled to pick up Travers Pickmere (9) to have Exies struggling on 3/15 after 5.3 overs.
The innings didn’t improve from their as after a quickfire 10-run partnership between Spry and Duane Ashcroft, Hazelman had his second as he was able to sneak through the defence of Spry (3).
Ashcroft and Tucker (3) fell before Exies were able to find their first meaningful partnership.
Coming together with 15 overs bowled and the score on 6/36, Arnold and Joel Mulder had work ahead of them to see their side through.
They were able to offer some resistance with the pair making 51 runs before Arnold (26) was dismissed by Greenaway.
Greenaway then picked up the wickets of Jimmy Mann (0) and Sam Casey (0) to see Exies fall to 9/87.
Mulder and Connor Bock put on 15-runs for the final wicket before Mulder was trapped in front by Greenaway (4/25) to give the Panthers a 49-run victory.
The win gives Leagues 12 vital points as they look to sure up their position inside the top four now having a 13-point advantage over fifth-placed Hanwood with four rounds remaining.
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