After a shock round one stumble to Mooroopna, the Bombers bounced back in gripping fashion on Saturday, sneaking home against Numurkah with just one ball to spare in a Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield match that had everything.
In the end, it was Brayden Carey who steered Waaia across the finish line, hitting the winning run to lift his side to 6-205, chasing down Numurkah’s 5-204 total in a nail-biting finale that reaffirmed the Bombers’ class under pressure.
For captain Mitch Cleeland, it was equal parts relief and satisfaction.
“It certainly was a good match; it was nice on our behalf to get our first win on the board,” Cleeland said.
“For the majority of the day, we were confident our bowling was going well and if we could apply ourselves with the bat we’d get over the line.
“We were pretty happy with how things unfolded — albeit very close — but you take a win when you can get them.”
Numurkah, meanwhile, looked set to post a daunting total when Raguvaran Aravinthan took charge with the bat.
The English right-hander was imperious, cracking a classy 98 runs and narrowly missing out on what would have been one of the early-season’s standout centuries.
Veteran Kyren Dawson (34) and milestone man Jahlan Lau (15), playing his 300th game for the Blues, provided valuable support as Numurkah closed at 5-204.
For Waaia, scalps were hard to come by.
Jesse Trower (2-39) was the lone wicket-taker, while the other three dismissals came via run outs — something Cleeland said owed more to fortune than design.
“We got lucky with a couple of run outs because it didn’t really seem like we were going to get a wicket many other ways,” he said.
“It was one of those wickets where you probably got yourself out if you got out.”
It meant the chase would have to be clinical.
But things started shakily, with Sam Trower departing for a duck.
From there, though, the innings steadied thanks to a composed knock from Jordan Cleeland (58), who held the innings together through the middle overs.
Bombers imports Jaime Riley and Brandon Diplock then announced themselves in style, each compiling handy 36-run knocks that kept Waaia’s momentum rolling.
Their contributions, alongside skipper Cleeland’s own 36, gave the defending champions just enough fuel for a late surge.
“The two guys that have come in have fitted into the group really well,” Cleeland said.
“They both showcased yesterday how much of an asset they’re going to be moving forward. Hopefully that’s just a stepping stone and a confidence boost for them and for the group as well.”
As the sun dipped, the match hung in the balance: four runs required off the final over.
Numurkah captain Matt Cline dismissed Diplock to raise the tension further, but Carey kept his cool — punching the winning run to complete the chase on the penultimate delivery.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was gutsy — and after the round one slip, Waaia’s response said plenty.
“Probably just concentration and application with our batting,” Cleeland said.
“Our bowling and fielding have been relatively good both weeks, but it was chalk and cheese in terms of the way we applied ourselves.
“Hopefully that first week is a lesson learned, and from now on it’ll hold us in good stead moving forward.
THE GAME
Numurkah 5-204 (Raguvaran Aravinthan 98, Kyren Dawson 34, Jesse Trower 2-39) def by Waaia 6-205 (Jordan Cleeland 58, Brandon Diplock 36, Matt Cline 2-31)
STAR PLAYER
Jordan Cleeland (Waaia): Cleeland was an anchor at the top, crafting a steady half-century after losing his opening partner early. A special mention goes to Aravinthan, who was unlucky to hole out two runs shy of a ton.
