Armstrong’s muscle Tatura out of deep pit to claim an all-time revival victory

Numurkah entered day two of round seven’s Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield clash on top despite being bowled out for 181 on day one, having had 11 overs to make an early mark with the ball - and that they did, claiming two wickets in the first over to trouble Tatura’s position in the match.

In the early afternoon of Saturday, that position only worsened.

Sitting at 2-8 as the 12th over began, Lachlan Magee blocked out a maiden to begin the second day’s proceedings, but Baxter Plunkett would only survive three balls before he was caught in the field off none other than Matt Cline - the man who nabbed the first two wickets on day one.

And with Cline, one brings two.

Kiran Green was rolled for a golden duck immediately after, knicking off straight into the keeper’s gloves, leaving Tatura in dire straits and Numurkah off to a scintillating start.

Magee played in tandem briefly with Blake Armstrong, but after an 18-run partnership, he was caught for 11, leaving Armstrong to join forces with his skipper, and brother, Jayden.

At 5-26, requiring 146 runs for victory, it seemed like a steep and insurmountable task.

But Tatura’s Armstrong pairing stared the summit right in the face and dared to climb it.

“Despite the score, there was a fair bit of belief in the group still,” Tatura coach Daniel Coombs said.

“We have a long batting line-up, so we believed we could change the tide.

“The Armstrong boys were patient at the start, but really started to flick through the gears as they scored.”

Slowly but surely, the duo began to fill the run sheet.

After 17 overs at the crease together, a 50-run partnership had formed, but it would take just nine overs to add on the next 50.

Rotating the strike and flicking the wrists at poor balls, Numurkah’s voice shrunk as the Armstrong’s frustrated the Blues with their poise and collectedness despite Tatura’s unprecedented position.

In the 55th over, a 119-run partnership would end as Blake Armstrong tickled the edge of a Riley Dawson delivery, ending his day on 75 off 131.

As he crossed the Numurkah Showgrounds rope to head into the sheds, Tatura had been revived.

From 5-26 to 6-145, Tatura was now just 27 runs from victory with four wickets remaining - an unimaginable situation to be in when the club was four wickets down, requiring 173 runs to win.

The newfound position provided Nicholas Watt with the freedom to come in and play without fear, and he would produce a quick fire 24 off 18 with Jayden Armstrong, who would fall on 64 with the team two runs shy of victory, to bring Tatura home against all odds by three wickets.

It could be a big result for both the immediate and distant future of the Haisman Shield summer, with Tatura’s 5-2 record sitting the club in fourth while Numurkah’s 4-3 record places the Blues fifth.

However, had the Blues continued its march from when it had Tatura 4-8, it would likely have been at least third heading into the Christmas break, while a loss for Tatura could have placed it outside the top six, highlighting the importance of the Armstrongs’ comeback feat.

“It was a massive game in the context of the season,” Coombs said.

“To get a little bit of a gap when the competition is so tight is important.

“As a team we want to have a real crack after Christmas, last season we fell away after the break.

“We’ve got a tough run coming up but we want to be there for finals.”

When the cricket returns in 2026, Numurkah will aim to rebound against seventh-placed Mooroopna, while Tatura’s tough run begins by hosting Central Park-St Brendan’s.