The Waaia skipper was up and about after his Bombers ran down Numurkah’s total in the second to last over on Saturday, sealing a six-wicket win and passage to pole position.
Numurkah set a target of 194 ― fair considering a horror opening ― but couldn’t back the Bombers into a corner right at the death.
With Katandra falling to Central Park-St Brendan’s, Waaia now goes two points clear at the top to plaster a smile across Cleeland’s face.
“It was a good win; they’re a quality side, so it’s always nice to match up and go well against those sort of sides,” he said.
“It’s positive for us to be able to get up over them.
“I thought we played a pretty good brand of cricket, albeit we probably let them get a few too many with the bat than we should have in the first place, but it was nice to chase a decent total.”
Numurkah’s imports were forced to show their class from the jump, as one ball in, the Blues were already in trouble.
Connor Brown splayed Kody Jackson’s stumps first ball and fellow opener Jordan O’Dwyer was also sent packing for a duck, albeit 18 balls more mature.
Enter Raguvaran Aravinthan and James Du Toit.
The latter, fresh off a 78-run debut, carved four to the fence before Cleeland foiled him for 20, while Aravinthan clubbed 42 on the way to being caught.
Numurkah captain Tim Arnel chipped away in the background and, try as Waaia might to coax him into error, refused to throw his wicket away.
Arnel finished with 63 unbeaten as the Blues carried through to 8-193 thanks to a late cameo from Joseph Wills (29), with Cleeland (2-52) and Jesse Trower (2-41) the pick of the Bombers’ bowling brigade.
“Everyone chipped in and did their bit with the ball and that’s what we’re priding ourselves on at the minute with even contributions across the board,” Cleeland said.
“There’s a few guys they have who stuck it out and reaped the rewards at the end.
“Tim batted really well and set them up perfectly with a good total.”
Contrary to Numurkah’s start with the bat, the Bombers went 15 overs without the loss of wicket.
Brayden Carey departed for 14, outfoxed by Arnel, and it was Sam Trower’s turn to walk three runs shy of a half-century after Mitch Grandell sent one through his gate.
South African Reinhardt Engler came even closer to raising the bat, but holed out to Aravinthan on 49, as did compatriot Quinton Venter (19).
With Waaia running out of time, Cleeland (33 not out) stepped up and slapped the winning runs to extend the Bombers’ winning run to four on the trot.
He praised Engler, who has 180 runs at 45, for his ability to capitalise and make teams pay in the intermediate overs.
THE GAME
Waaia 4-195 (R Engler 49, S Trower 47, R Aravinthan 2-38) d Numurkah 8-193 (T Arnel 63*, R Aravinthan 42, J Trower 2-41)
STAR PLAYER
Mitch Cleeland (Waaia): A number of players shone for Waaia, but Cleeland wheeled out a true captain’s performance to put his side on top. The crucial wickets of Du Toit and Wills were important in the grand scheme, as was his batting stint in at five.
“He’s been super for us, it’s made a world of difference having him through the middle order just to steady things up,” he said.
“Sam and Brayden have been really good at the top of the order getting us off to a nice start and allowing everybody behind them to come in and have a little bit of pressure off I suppose.
“That’s been a big thing for us and guys like Reinhardt are making the most of those scenarios.”
