Sport
Kyabram claims another Haisman Shield scalp in comfortable fashion, defeating Pine Lodge
It was a reality check in waiting for the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield’s new kids on the block and Kyabram happily obliged.
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You never know quite what’s coming when you face an unfamiliar outfit like Pine Lodge, but in electing to bat first at Kyabram Recreation Reserve, the newcomer was keen to try its hand.
What followed was a display that soon affirmed why Kyabram had attained the position it did last season, not to mention reinforcing its impressive start to the current campaign.
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Pine Lodge's Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige provided a touch of lower-order steel. Photo by Holly DanielImage 2 of 8
Kyabram's Paul Parsons and Charlie Mclay work together in the field. Photo by Holly DanielImage 3 of 8
Pine Lodge's Lachlan Ludeman tries playing one to mid-off. Photo by Holly DanielImage 4 of 8
Kyabram's Jackson McLay watches as an edge skips past. Photo by Holly DanielImage 5 of 8
Pine Lodge's Cooper Adkins looks to go high. Photo by Holly DanielImage 6 of 8
Kyabram rejoices after dismissing Pine Lodge's Lachlan Ludeman. Photo by Holly DanielImage 7 of 8
Pine Lodge's Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige goes on the attack. Photo by Holly DanielImage 8 of 8
On the sidelines, Max McLay, 8, Indi McLay, 5, Agatha Young, 4 and Ned Young, 6, made their own fun. Photo by Holly DanielWhen opener Liam Trevaskis fell without a score in the game’s first over, the tone appeared more than set.
Charlie McLay produced the goods once more with a trio of early breakthroughs and, well shy of an hour in, the Lodgers were five down before the half-century mark.
With every indication pointing to this contest taking the express route, the Redbacks found some surprising resistance in Pine Lodge’s lower order.
Eating up minutes at the crease and picking their spots carefully, Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige and Mohammad Mursalin Ahmed made the visitors’ eighth-wicket stand their most potent, notching a defiant 32-run partnership before Shafiqullah Maroofkhel produced his finest display since arriving at the club to confirm a modest total of 101.
THE GAME
Pine Lodge 101 (Lachlan Ludeman 21, Shafiqullah Maroofkhel 3-11, Charlie McLay 3-23) lt Kyabram 5-102 (Billy McLay 39, Cade Mueller 23, Ryan Kearney 3-28)
STAR PLAYER
Charlie McLay (Kyabram): While not the most economical bowler, McLay’s figures shone in their own right with three of the day’s most crucial wickets. His early efforts set the tone beautifully for a simplistic victory.
It certainly could have been worse, though and Pine Lodge’s strength this season had been its bowling, so heads were unlikely to be thoroughly bowed.
Nonetheless, Billy McLay got things moving at a comfortable pace, digging in and strolling through when needed.
The removal of Paul Parsons through a run out would have perhaps provided a glimmer of hope and, indeed, Ryan Kearney was doing all in his power to prevent the inevitable with three poles, including the prized catch of Kyle Mueller for 15.
That said, the Redbacks simply had far too many men and the Lodgers far too little time, the premiers notching a comfortable five-wicket win in barely half their overs even without a star contributor with the bat.
Coach Jackson McLay was proud to get it done comprehensively, lamenting the missed chance to post a big score in favourable conditions.
“We would have loved to have batted first as the wicket seemed pretty flat,” McLay said.
“Our bowlers were fantastic and starting with some spin brought good results, so we were really able to restrict them.
“To their credit they dug in and it is A-grade cricket, so you expect a partnership or two.
“Chasing 100, we were keen to get it done as quickly as possible so there was some licence to get at the opposition; you’re usually only one partnership away from winning chasing that number.”
It’s a bit of a reputation forming now, this being the third time in as many weeks the second innings of a Kyabram game has ended in fewer than 25 overs.
Of course, as the competition moves to two-day fixtures for the next three rounds, patience and endurance will prove to be virtues — but in meeting Karramomus, there will be happy memories of the famous escape Kyabram pulled off to make finals last season.
“Two-day cricket is always interesting. We’ll be keen to hopefully bat first and just try to play out our overs,” McLay said.
“Our approach last season was not to change too much and we’re keeping with that.
“Just trying to work the batters over a bit more with a couple of spinners in pretty good form will help us, so they’ll probably bowl a lot of overs.”
Pine Lodge gets its first taste of the two-day A-grade environment against another in-form opponent in Central Park-St Brendan’s, still searching for a maiden win.
Sports Journalist