It was a case of a missed opportunity for Leagues as Exies pull a win out of a tough situation during their timed match at West End Oval on Saturday afternoon.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat Leagues looked to make a positive start but the loss of Logan Matheson (7) after he was bowled by Marc Tucker (2/24) saw the side rebuilding early.
Reece Matheson (8) and Oliver Coulman (26) tried to get the side moving, but Matheson fell with the score on 31 with Andrew Arnold (1/25) striking.
Coulman and Andrew Madden (23) both worked hard to get starts but Exies were able to keep the pressure on picking up wickets at regular intervals with Coulman run out by Travers Pickmere with the score on 59 with Matt Kennan (3) following soon after.
Micheal Bresolin (14) joined Madden at the crease with the pair putting on 15 runs before Madden was trapped in front by Jamie Winkler (2/21) with Bresolin and Ryan Greenaway (2) following soon after.
Ben Jones (2) and Paul Plummer (18) tried to put late runs on the board with a 21-run partnership before Duane Ashcroft (2/14) struck to remove Jones and Satvir Chahal (3) before Raj Singh (8) added some late runs to see the Panthers finish on 130 off 43 overs.
In reply, it looked like Leagues would be in the box seat after taking early wickets to have Exies on the back foot.
Chahal and Plummer (3/25) made an early impact with Phil Burge (2), Winkler (2), Pickmere (2), Tom Burge (0), Ashcroft (0) and Craig Burge (0) falling within the first 11 overs to have the side struggling on 6/17.
If not for the work of Alistair Burge, Exies would have been in a much worse position because after a 62-run partnership with Andrew Arnold getting the side into a competitive position.
When Arnold and Tucker (4) became Chahal’s fourth and fifth victims, it looked like Leagues would be able to come away with the first innings points with Exies 47 runs behind.
Joel Mulder (16) was able to play a supporting role for Burge as their side worked themselves into a position to pick up the first innings point as Burge hit a six to see Exies pass Leagues total.