BLU qualified for the Northern Rivers cricket region competition after progressing to last season’s Goulburn Murray Cricket grand final against Echuca, who also competed in the weekend’s T20 carnival.
Drawn against Nathalia in the first round at White Hills Reserve, the Lions dished up a short format classic for the fans in a super-over thriller.
Batting first, BLU skipper Regis Chakabva got things started at the top of the order with 25 runs, and 16 each to Liam Hamilton and Greg Pearse saw the Lions post 8-122 in the face of some tight Nathalia bowling.
However, the feat was matched in the run chase, as a Thomas Binks single on the final ball of the Nathalia innings saw scores locked, resulting in a super over.
Chakabva and Werner Brand took the super over and put up seven runs, a Brand boundary giving the Lions something to defend.
The ball then fell to BLU’s Alex Wagner, who sealed a memorable victory by conceding just four runs and claiming a crucial wicket off his six deliveries.
BLU faced GMC rival Echuca in the second match, but the eventual champion was a class above, bundling out the Lions for 95 before chasing the total two wickets down.
Echuca went on to defeat Emu Valley Cricket Association club United by seven wickets in the final.
Back in the GMC’s Haeuslers T20 competition, BLU faced Nondies-Cohuna.
Nondies-Cohuna rocketed to the top of the standings with an impressive victory over the Lions, with boom recruit Dylan Klemm starring for the men in purple.
The Kangaroo Flat star was in everything at Cohuna Reserve, top-scoring with 37 off 24 deliveries to help Nondies post 139 from its 20 overs, while brother Jake was next best with 24 at the top of the order.
Two wickets each to BLU bowlers Brand and Jeremy Felmingham kept the lid on a bigger score, but the loss of marquee player Chris Thewlis early in the chase saw the Lions’ prospects fading quickly.
Chakabva’s good run of form in the McMahon Shield transferred to the T20 competition, flaying a quick-fire 41 to see BLU get back on track.
But his innings was ended prematurely by Rhys Bradley, while Klemm backed up his 37 runs with 3-11 as BLU was dismissed for 103, confirming Nondies-Cohuna’s second consecutive win of the competition.
At Rochester Recreation Reserve, the home side’s bowlers got the job done to notch its first win.
Bowling first against Cooma, Rochester had a dream start through Josh Williams, who sent Matt Darvill packing on the first ball of the innings.
After a slow build, Jake Kelly was next to depart, marked as timed out on the scorecard.
Rochester T20 skipper Fraser Cleary then got to work, snaring 4-24 in a game-changing four-over spell.
Cooper Fawcett with 30 runs and a late cameo from Darcy Backway with 16 saw Cooma to a total of 7-97, but it was never going to be enough for the Two Blues to defend.
Dylan Cuttriss smashed 45 runs at the top of the order and, despite a mini collapse late, the fast start was enough for Rochester to chase down the total with five wickets to spare in the 17th over.
In the McMahon Shield, the clash between Rochester and BLU was abandoned.
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