Lake Albert produced the surprise of the season to comprehensively down premiers Wagga City at McPherson Oval on Saturday.
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It shaped as a mismatch with the ladder leaders taking on the last-placed outfit, but it was the Bulls who threw out the form guide with their five-wicket win.
Captain Isaac Cooper believes it is exactly what the club needed to push their finals claim.
"It is massive as the Cats are top of the table and defending premiers," Cooper said.
"All week it has been about a big game from first grade to get the club going and to be able to do it is unreal."
Joe Martin (2-8) and Tom Doig (1-20) made early inroads to put Cats under pressure before the wickets kept on tumbling.
Coming in well down the order, captain Josh Thompson (39) offered some resistance before being stumped off Cooper.
However he was the only Wagga City batsman to make it past 16.
Nathan Brookes finished with 3-14 off his nine overs as Lake Albert bowled out Wagga City for 127.
Josh Coyte then controlled the Bulls run chase.
Opening the innings, Coyte made 59 off 114 balls before being removed 10 short of the target.
He and Sam Smith (26) helped steady the innings after three quick wickets before Cooper (15 not out) and teenage debutant Lewis Pulver (one not out) finished off the memorable victory with over six overs to spare.
Cooper thought a strong start with the ball really set up the win.
"Our opening two bowlers, Joey Martin and Tom Doig just bowled out of their skin and got us off to the start we needed," Cooper said.
"We lacked there for a few overs and they got a few runs but the boys dug in, we got wickets regularly which helped keep them to a score which we would have been very happy with at the start of the game."
He was also thrilled with how Coyte adapted to the opener's role to ensure there would be no hiccups in the run chase.
"Josh has looked good at training this week, we gave him the chance to open and he controlled the innings for us for the whole run chase," Cooper said. "It was a shame to see him get out at the end but it doesn't take anything away from him.
"He batted brilliantly for the whole innings."
The loss sees the Cats drop to second place ahead of the top-of-the-table clash against South Wagga on Saturday.
The Bulls are now one of three sides level on 18 points with three rounds to play.
Wagga RSL are two points ahead in third with Kooringal Colts in fourth on quotient.
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