While Rochester sat out with the bye, Bamawm-Lockington United played host to Nathalia at Bamawm Recreation Reserve.
The visitor won the toss and elected to send the Lions in to bat first.
BLU found itself in early trouble after losing opener Ruby Brentnall for no score.
Bree Styles came to the crease and linked up with Evie Riordan, the pair adding 21 before Riordan also departed, followed quickly by Liz Chapman, who didn’t trouble the scorers.
The partnership of Styles and Amy Fitzgerald proved the vital one for the Lions as the duo combined for a strong fourth-wicket stand.
Styles retired not out after 40 balls in the middle, exposing the Lions’ lower order to the Nathalia attack.
Emily Holgate added six before she was removed and the valuable scalp of Fitzgerald went Alyssa Lowe’s way, BLU reduced to 5-80.
The tail didn’t have much wag on this occasion and when Styles was recalled as the last available batter her side was 9-92, BLU concluding the innings all out for 94.
Styles’ 28 not out was the best of the Lions’ totals, with Fitzgerald’s 17 the only other score of note.
Lowe and Abby Favaro each took two wickets for Nathalia, while four others chipped in with a single breakthrough each.
The Lions would have been disappointed to not take advantage of the longer format, batting only 24.4 of the allocated 35 overs.
Chasing 95 for victory, Nathalia was off to a nightmarish start, losing Jessica Daniel with the third ball of the innings.
Ella Johns and Courtney Cunningham played a steadying hand, but Johns’ departure at 2-21 triggered a minor collapse for Nathalia.
The visitor lost 4-3 in a disastrous stretch before Favaro salvaged the innings with a composed 19 from 20 balls.
BLU was in reach of victory when a strong Evie Riordan over put the Lions within two wickets, with Nathalia 8-87.
However, the extras column, which had been ticking up at a rate of knots throughout the innings, finally got the better of BLU. Nathalia was not required to score the winning runs off the bat as it reached the total in 28.2 overs.
Riordan, Fitzgerald and Holgate each provided two wickets for the Lions, while Ruby Brentnall and Styles chipped in one each.
The 35-over round signals the end of scheduled matches for 2024. The competition will resume on January 12.
BLU will face the challenge of league-leader Mooroopna, while Rochester will visit Shepparton Youth Club United.
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