A calamitous run out triggered a collapse but Wagga City overcame their misstep to go undefeated through the first Twenty20 weekend.
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The Cats looked to be cruising to victory against Lake Albert at Rawlings Park on Sunday before captain Josh Thompson (13) was run out.
The ball ricocheted off umpire Pat Kerin but with Jon Nicoll already committed to the run both were at the strikers end as the run out was completed by bowler Sam McLay.
Nicoll (40) and Tom Burge (2) followed as the Cats lost 3-8 chasing the Bulls' 8-109.
However needing 12 off Josh Coyte's last over to take victory, a six from Max Harper (14 not out) helped the premiers sneak home with a ball to spare.
Harper was almost run out completing the final two needed but in the end Thompson was relieved to come away with the win.
"It is definitely good to win the clutch games like that but we probably shouldn't have won," Thompson said.
"In those last four overs we were down but it was a brilliant batting performance from Max Harper and Tim Jenkins got us home at the end, which was good."
Jenkins (16 not out) stepped into the side after impressing in second grade and Thompson was pleased with how he handled the occasion.
"He is a very committed young bloke at our club and deserved a chance so I'm just happy things went his way," he said.
"It's obviously nice for him to walk away from the ground with a win and for him to contribute is really good."
It backed up a win against Wagga RSL at Robertson Oval on Friday.
That clash also went into the final over but the Cats completed the five-wicket win with five balls remaining.
They looked in trouble chasing Wagga RSL's 9-133, led by Brad McMillan's unbeaten 72, before some strong hitting from Ben Turner (51) and Burge (31) saw them get over the line, while Ed Grigg was unbeaten on 24.
The Cats sit atop the ladder as the only team to register two wins from their two matches so far.
Thompson is looking to see some improvement when they face Kooringal Colts at Robertson Oval on Friday, however he admitted the runs are yet to come freely for any of the clubs so far.
"In our first six overs we are just not capitalising on the restrictions," he said.
"It is something we have to look at to set ourselves up for a big total so I think we will have to make some changes.
"I think everyone is trying to work out this T20 thing.
"I think everyone had high hopes of hitting 150 for both teams and that's not the case at the moment.
"Everyone is just getting in the groove and hopefully there are a few big innings towards the back end of the season."
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