Pearse claims a handful as BLU moves in to top four

However, it didn’t take long for the first wicket to fall on day two, with Alex Wagner (1-24) snaring the scalp of Billy Hawken for 12.

Tyler Jones came to the crease and combined well with captain Joshua O’Shea as the pair set about reeling in the big total.

They put on 51 runs together before Luke Thompson broke the partnership, dismissing Jones for 30 after the L-G pair started to look threatening.

Simon Tatt (0) and Jye Keath (5) both fell in quick succession as BLU quickly began to take control of the match, and by the time O’Shea was dismissed by Declan Pearse for 55, the home side was in trouble at 5-116.

The loss of the skipper sparked a middle-order collapse, as Blake Gibson was run out for nine, before Pearse nabbed Sam Colvin (0) and Daniel Hegarty (1), with the four wickets falling for just two runs.

Pearse rattled through the tail to finish with 5-15 as BLU bowled L-G out for just 138, still 192 runs shy of the first-up total set by the visitors.

The home side was made to bat again as BLU chased overall victory, and it looked to be well on the way as it removed the dangerous O’Shea (2) and fellow opener Hawken (2) to have L-G reeling at 2-8.

But Jones fared well, digging in to post 52 not out at the end of play, supported by Tatt (13 not out), as L-G finished the day’s play on 3-84 and denied BLU an outright win.

BLU will no doubt be happy to take some points away from the affair, with the side now moving into fourth spot on the McMahon Shield ladder.

It will look to consolidate that position next week when it returns to one-day cricket, taking on Cooma away from home, while L-G will continue to search for its first win when it hosts Kyabram Fire Brigade.