Haisman Shield | Gallery | Waaia secures crucial win in low-scoring affair

Choosing to bat first, the visitors failed to get control of the contest as the home side proved dangerous with the ball in hand.

Taking seven wickets for 47 runs, the performances of Sam Nash (4-13), Mahesh Kodamullage (2-12) and Wajhe Bangash (2-19) headlined the home side’s spell with the ball.

Yet despite dismissing the visiting side for 93 after 41.2 overs, United would face its own issues at the crease.

Two wickets in a row from Waaia’s Jesse Trower in the third over set the tone early, with the tricky wicket continuing to cause havoc.

Sitting on 4-53 the home side looked to be set for victory, however, the loss of five wickets for five runs had its hopes diminish, with Waaia cleaning it up for 73 runs.

Speaking after the contest Waaia captain Mitch Cleeland said it was an interesting game.

“A win’s a win, but it was a tricky deck to bat on, hence the low scores from both sides,” Cleeland said.

“By the time we’d sort of scraped to 90 and we’d batted we thought we were in with a fair chance from ball one as long we we bowled the right areas.

“It sort of looked after itself with our bowling and we managed to scrap away with the win.”

Saying the pitch helped his side with the ball, Cleeland said that while Waaia was still inconsistent in some areas, it was good to get the win.

The team’s first victory since round four, the result is vital in keeping the Bombers’ top six hopes alive.

“We pinpointed this game as one that we needed to win to get our season back on track and make sure we stay in the hunt for a top six spot,” Cleeland said.

“It was obviously important and now we’ve got a big game next week against Kyabram, but getting a win and giving ourselves a buffer against the rest of the sides was the big thing for us.”