CAMPERDOWN snared five wickets without conceding a run to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Bookaar on Saturday.
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The Pelicans looked home and hosed, sitting comfortably on 5-132 in pursuit of Camperdown’s 134, but a team triple hat-trick triggered a collapse that saw Bookaar bowled out without adding to its tally.
Camperdown top order batsman Jye McLaughlin – who was forced to watch the end unfold from the pavilion after sustaining a hamstring injury – said a “freakish” run-out kick-started the remarkable run.
Bookaar batsman Henry Green sent the ball back past bowler Tyson Osborne, clipping his hand on the way through before collecting the stumps at the other end of the pitch.
“Sylas Merrett was backing up a bit too far,” McLaughlin said.
“I’ve only ever seen that (type of dismissal) twice in cricket.”
Green – who had been batting well with 41 runs to his name to that point – was gone the next ball as he holed on out to deep mid-wicket, then Stephen Fitzgerald was gone for a golden duck, bowled by Osborne.
Camperdown’s Henry Moyle had Jeremy Lucas out caught behind the next over, before a mix-up saw Dominic Cunningham run out while trying to push for a single.
“It was pretty devastating for them and a good mix-up for us,” McLaughlin said.
For the Lakers, the win over last year’s runner-up was just their second since returning to division one at the start of the season, and it is already set to become one of their most memorable.
“I’ve never played in a game like that before and I don’t think I will again,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin praised the efforts of bowlers on both sides, with Bookaar’s medium pacers Fraser Lucas, Joe Muir and Simon Baker taking five wickets between them and conceding less than 20 runs apiece off their respective 10-over spells, while the Camperdown spin duo of Troy McLaughlin and Shane Wilson were also tight.
Camperdown captain Mitch McLaughlin said the win would be big for the belief of the club and its players.
“It’s a massive win for the club,” he said.
“There was some brilliant bowling and the fielding was exceptional.”
Reigning premier Mortlake continued to hit its stride, powering past Cobden’s 184 on its way to 8-261, while Michael Vogels and Chris Dendle took seven wickets between them as the Heytesbury Rebels restricted Pomborneit to 150 to secure a 44-run win.
An unbeaten knock of 80 from Dave Conheady was not enough to get Noorat over the line at home against Terang, with the visitors posting 9-185 in reply to Noorat’s 7-169.