Coming off the bye, Bamawm-Lockington United looked like an all-round threat taking Tongala down in round three of the 2025-26 McMahon Shield.

Playing at Bamawm Recreation Reserve, Tonny won the toss and sent the Lions into bat in the first innings.

Aiming to roll BLU for a low total, Tonny’s plan started off remarkably well, as Lachlan Caldwell trapped Kade Pearse (0) lbw with the fifth ball of the innings.

Fellow opener Regis Chakabva and first drop Liam Hamilton put on a solid 49-run partnership through until the ninth over before Caldwell got his second, beating Chakabva (30) all ends up to break the game open.

Tonny’s Adam Nunn got in on the action, dismissing Hamilton (19) before Mitchell Cornwall caught and bowled Kaydn Blachford for a duck and Darin Ohlsen found his man in import Woody Wilson (6).

Luke Thompson and Prateer Mehta managed to steady the ship for the Lions, who at this point were at 5-62.

The pair put on 34 together for the sixth wicket, dragging their side to the precipice of triple figures, before Mehta was caught by Ryan Smith off Zac McKenzie’s bowling for 14.

Thompson (32) was a bit unlucky with his dismissal, with a mix-up in between the wickets resulting in a run out.

Noah Turner (10) and Thomas Dicker (11) made contributions, before Joseph Holloway (24 not out) and Gregory Pearse (11) combined to push BLU to a respectable 170.

Despite a steady opening partnership between Darin Ohlsen (9) and Stephen Townsend, the wheels fell off for Tongala after the former was run out by Hamilton.

Kade Pearse went ballistic in the 10th over, jagging the wickets of Ryan Smith (0) and Jayden Tucker (0) both lbw before bowling Braith Northausen in his next set of six.

This left Tonny with some serious work to do at 4-26, with over 140 still required.

While Townsend and Adam Nunn were able to keep things together, it wasn’t long before the former was sent packing by Thomas Dicker for 20.

Nunn (18) and Caldwell (19) were the last line of defence for Tonny and when they were both dismissed ten overs apart, it brought a premature end for the visitor, who was rolled for 94 with 76 still required.

The victory slots BLU into the top three heading into round four, while Tongala is knocking on the door of the top four in sixth.

The Lions will travel to Gunbower Recreation Reserve on Saturday to face L-G while Tonny will face its closest geographical rivals in Kyabram Fire Brigade at Northern Oval.

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Saturday, 18th December 2027

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