Lion-hearted effort launches BLU into finals

And that’s exactly what BLU did against the highly-fancied Moama, claiming a comfortable five-wicket win to leapfrog fourth-place Kyabram, who fell to Nondies-Cohuna.

Requiring 189 for victory on Saturday after Anthony McMahon’s 73-run stand powered Moama to a defendable total, Liam Hamilton and Declan Pearse resumed the chase at 0-5.

Pearse departed early to the bowling of Jordan McGregor, but a Hamilton and Regis Chakabva partnership steadied the ship before Russell Stockdale sent Hamilton packing for 21.

Luke Thompson joined Chakabva at the crease, and it was this duo who did the bulk of the run-making.

Both players saluted half-centuries, but with Thompson’s departure to Kirk Teasdale, the game remained in the balance at 5-142.

Not for long, however, as a 47-run sixth-wicket partnership between Rathika Rajamukara (17) and Josh Cairns (35) guided the Lions to a comfortable win in the 56th over.

Stockdale and McGregor each picked up two wickets for Moama but the Lions’ batsmen were up for the challenge after some probing bowling early in the day.

Crucially, the Lions fifth win of the season handed it the last spot in McMahon Shield finals.

Kyabram Fire Brigade’s loss allowed BLU to leapfrog the Flames into fourth place, with the Lions qualifying for their second straight finals series.

BLU will face minor premier Echuca in a rematch of last season’s grand final, with the winner of the semi-final progressing to its second consecutive grand final.

The result also sees Moama slip to third and book in a semi-final against Nondies-Cohuna, which has qualified for its maiden Goulburn Murray Cricket finals series.