Having the opportunity to bat first at Victoria Park, McDonald Lawson could only manage 143 and will rue not posting at least another 40 runs as Paragon won by four wickets.

At 4-119 in the 29th over, the Bulls had a platform to push during the last 11 overs.

Both Will Parker (28) and Greg Lawson (31) made a solid 61-run partnership before the former fell victim to a Brad James delivery, sparking a collapse of sorts.

Lawson was sent packing on the first ball of the next over from Steve Knight and wickets fell steadily as the Bulls crumbled to be all out for 143 in 37.2 overs.

Both James (3-17 off six) and Knight (2-17 off four) took top honours with the ball as well as opener Will Lindsay (2-20 off eight) who bagged a brace.

McDonald Lawson’s bowling didn’t get off to a great start as Jacob Rohr bowled three no-balls above the waist in the first over and was subsequently removed from the attack. 

From there on Paragon moved along well thanks to a good second-wicket partnership between Josh Edwards (26) and Knight (37), taking the score to 1-51 in the eighth over. But again when the former batsman got out wickets started to fall. 

Knight watched the score soon become 5-95 and he became the next key wicket, dismissed at 6/108 and leaving McDonald Lawson with a glimmer of hope.

However Nathan Lane (31 not out) made a great contribution batting at number eight, putting on a vital 37-run partnership with James Gillham (six not out) to close the innings in the 38th over.

Bowling well for the Bulls was Seton Croake, claiming the scalp of Knight and returning figures of 2-29 from his seven overs.

Also collecting two wickets was Brenton Chapman, removing Paragon’s two opening batsman but at an expensive eight runs per over to finish with 2-41 off five overs.