Arnel and youngster Riley Dawson took the reins after electing to bat first, with a 96-run fourth-wicket partnership steering Numurkah to a new season-high score, setting the winless Old Students a whopping 264 for victory and dismissing its foes for 142.
No fewer than nine Students would undertake a bowling spell, with skipper Callan McCabe and Jake Sutherland contributing the four bowled wickets between them in an ultimately futile effort.
Coming in at 3-62 after the run out of Jordan O’Dwyer, Arnel took Old Students to task, finding the rope 10 times on his way to a powerful 102 off 96 balls.
THE GAME
Numurkah 5-263 (T. Arnel 102*, R. Dawson 57, C. McCabe 2-29) d Old Students 142 (S. O’Brien 36, R. Aravinthan 2-12, M. Grandell 2-25)
STAR PLAYER
Tim Arnel (Numurkah): Nothing short of stellar with a century at better than a run a ball in an aggressive first innings, setting Numurkah more than comfortably on its way to victory.
Meanwhile, Dawson contributed his second half-century in as many weeks as his star continues to rise.
Ragu Aravinthan, featured in The News this week, was the pick of the Numurkah attack, with his figures of 2-12 putting the game to bed comfortably.
All six of his side’s bowlers shared in the wickets, with O’Dwyer obtaining his run-out revenge by throwing out Andre Gagliardi.
Arnel was chuffed with the output in a decisive win.
“It was a great team performance and the first time this year we’ve ticked all the boxes,” Arnel said.
“We bowled really well, stuck to our lengths and we got Lambourn and Odell out cheap, which had been a focus for us before the game.
“In that middle block of 30 overs we ran really hard, we batted really smart and we set the platform for the blokes at the end to hit out.”
On a high-scoring day of Haisman Shield, last week’s benchmark score from Nagambie was beaten three times, with Numurkah eventually finishing top of the pops.
Arnel had praise for several contributors, especially 18-year-old Dawson, who continues to impress in all facets of the game.
“Riley has taken his spot in at four and he’s bowling really well,” Arnel said.
“(Callan) McCabe came in and bowled a really fiery spell at him, trying to bounce him out.
“I give Riley a lot of credit for keeping his head in it. He batted really well and continued his good form.“
Numurkah will be heavily favoured against Karramomus this weekend, but Arnel won’t be drawn into grandiose statements off the back of his side’s early fortunes.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Arnel said.
“We know we have a favourable draw at the start, but you still need to win them all.
“After Christmas is where the money is.”
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