NUMURKAH secured its third bonus point for the season, in its win against Waaia in their Haisman Shield A grade cricket match on Saturday, helped along with a five wicket haul from Mitch Grandell.

The Blues travelled out to Waaia to play the Bombers on their home soil, and Blues’ captain Liam Gledhill won the toss and elected to bat.

Jesse Trower struck early for Waaia, grabbing the prize wicket of in form batsman Dylan Grandell for five and followed up with the wicket of Will Arnel.

When Jordy Cleeland broke through for his first wicket, Numurkah was struggling at 3/34.

“In our first three games our openers have had hundred run partnerships, we knew it could not be maintained,” Gledhill said.

With high winds, rain and even some hail, conditions made it difficult to score, however Shaun Downie and Jahlan Lau showed their class and batted superbly to put on a 79 run partnership.

Downie brought up his 50, before being dismissed shortly after for 53, with the score 4/113. Michael Eckard (30) joined Lau (64no), and together put on a batting powerplay, with the pair hitting some massive sixes.

“It was really pleasing to see the middle order rebuild the innings and get some time out in the middle,” said Gledhill.

This lifted the run rate and allowed the Blues to finish on a total of 179 off their allotted 45 overs.

Jesse Trower and Jordy Cleeland both finished with two wickets apiece.

The Waaia innings started solidly and the score reached 26, before Matt Cline struck with his first wicket for the day, dismissing Greg Meyland for eight.

Waaia kept the scoreboard ticking over, moving along to 49 before Liam Gledhill struck, bowling Brayden Carey, to have Waaia at 2/49.

Mitch Grandell then took centre stage. He had Rory Knight trapped LBW and quickly followed up with the dismissal of both Mitch and Jordy Cleeland, to have Waaia in trouble at 5/63.

A great run out by Tim Braybon and two more wickets to Grandell had Waaia reeling at 8/70.

A terrific piece of fielding by Dylan Grandell forced yet another run out to have the score at 9/76.

Some lusty hitting from final pairing Sam Trower (21no) and Matt Stuart (21) brought a little respectability to the score, however they were unable to bridge the gap and were all out for 119 runs.

In a magnificent bowling display, Mitch Grandell took his first A grade five wicket haul (5/24) and was well supported by Matt Cline (2/15), and Liam Gledhill (1/12).

“Mitch is a confidence bowler and he had that on Saturday,” said Gledhill.

“He had great control of the ball into the breeze and got some great turn.”

Numurkah plays Mooroopna at home this Saturday in the first two day match of the season.

“We have had a great start to the season, however we are up against Mooroopna this week and this will be a good test for us, as they have recruited and played well this season,” said Gledhill.

Waaia will play Nagambie at Nagambie.