![Byron Hales. Byron Hales.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/9uPv5Hw5fHgJxKHJiUjqfy/b5308e45-dcfa-4bb9-9dd3-3d2e4e5480b9.jpg/r0_471_1624_1588_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
AN unchanged spell from Byron Hales has given Wodonga a season-defining victory over Lavington.
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Hales bowled a whopping 18.3 overs straight from the velodrome end at Lavington Sportsground to finish with a team-best 5-28.
The 28-year-old’s spell included eight maidens, and gave Wodonga a thrilling eight-run win after it defended just 108.
“It was good to blow the cobwebs out from the off-season,” Hales said.
“We had to be really disciplined because we had nothing to play with.
“We managed to get the chocolates in the end.”
After restricting Wodonga to 8-108, the Panthers had plenty of cause for optimism going into the second day.
Sam O’Connor made a quick-fire 32 at the top of the order for Lavington as teammates fell around him.
But even at 5-70, Lavington still had enough firepower left in the sheds to get the required 39 more runs needed for victory.
But Hales and Robbie Jackson had other ideas.
Jackson took three wickets in an over with his off-spinners and finished with 4-8, as Lavington was bowled out for 100 in the 49th over.
“Internally we always thought we were a chance,” Hales said.
“We’ve defended totals like that in the past.
“A couple of years ago in a prelim final against Lavington we did something similar.
“We thought we were a sniff.”
Apart from O’Connor (32), recruit Jethro Menzies hit an unbeaten 28 in the middle order, but Lavington couldn’t string any partnerships together.
“Our line and length was good and we were pretty disciplined,” Hales said.
“We forced them into making shots they didn’t need to play.
“Maybe later on there was a bit of pressure to score some runs as it got closer.”
Wodonga made 4-118 in its second innings.
While happy with the victory, Hales knows Wodonga must improve with the bat against St Patrick’s next round at Xavier Oval.
“It will be a batsmen friendly wicket so the boys will be working hard this week to try and put a more competitive total on the board,” he said.
The win means Wodonga joins Belvoir as the only unbeaten teams after two rounds.
The Eagles lived up to the pre-match hype by demolishing Tallangatta by 97 runs at Rowen Park.
Chasing 8-249, the premiers could only manage 152, with Greg McGillivray (41) top-scoring.