Blues batting crumbles against Lions

The Blues decided to bat first on their home patch, but weren’t able to build anything substantial throughout the innings.

After losing Lachlan Caldwell, Jayden Tucker and Zeke Neumann looked to be travelling nicely, getting their side to 32, but Tucker’s departure for 10 started a procession of wickets that snowballed Tonny’s woes.

The next best partnership of the innings was worth only 11 runs, as wickets fell with regularity, Neumann (15) and Matt Ohlsen (12) the only other batters to reach double digits.

Although the Blues held out for almost 34 overs, eventually BLU broke through their defences, bowling the hosts out for 78.

Prateer Mehta’s wiles with the ball kept Tongala off balance, the leg-spinner finishing with 4-20, while Liam Hamilton was also effective with 3-14.

One of the league’s premier sides in 2025-26, the Lions had little trouble running down the total, particularly due to a dynamic display from captain Regis Chakabva.

The reigning back-to-back Turner medallist hadn’t shown the same form as previous seasons, but put in a signature performance at the weekend, hitting six fours and two sixes on the way to an unbeaten 50 from 34 deliveries.

The captain’s innings did most of the work in getting the Lions home, with Liam Hamilton (16) and Kade Pearse (9 not out) chipping in as BLU reached the target in less than 14 overs.

Lachlan Caldwell (1-11) was the only Blue to make a breakthrough with the ball.

Tongala now finds itself in a difficult going into the Christmas break.

A 3-7 record only puts the Blues two games off the finals places with seven rounds remaining, but with two of Tongala’s victories coming against bottom-placed Nondies-Cohuna, the local side goes into five of its six remaining games against sides that have defeated it earlier in the year.

Tongala (3-7) will remain on home turf, welcoming Rochester to Tongala Recreation Reserve when league action resumes on January 10.

Kyabram Fire Brigade had the bye this week, but currently owns the valuable fourth spot with a 5-4 record.

Having taken the bye early in the cycle, the Flames effectively have a game in hand over most of the league, a valuable edge as it looks to cling to the possibility of a finals appearance.

Fire Brigade faces a daunting trip to unbeaten leader Moama when it returns to action on January 10.

BLU meanwhile goes into the break well-positioned to secure a top-two finish.

The Lions will next take to the field on January 10, battling Echuca at Moon Oval, Rochester.