Cricket Shepparton wrap | Kyabram slides down table

Kyabram’s decision to send Numurkah in to bat looked to be paying dividends when it had its rival 2-16 and then 4-69.

But its bowlers found a stumbling block in Michael Eckard, who held the Numurkah innings together with a fighting 65. He got support from Bailey Smith (32) and Jordan O’Dwyer (26) to build Numurkah’s score to a respectable 175 off its 45 overs.

Kyabram’s bowling spearhead Jackson McLay with an economical 2-20 and Charlie McLay with 3-42, both off nine overs, were the only multiple wicket takers for the visitors.

Kyabram was 1-33 in its run chase but once consistent opener Billy McLay fell for a top score of 32 off 41 balls and Kyle Mueller holed out on 16 the floodgates opened.

Kyabram then failed to produce another batsman to reach double figures in a disappointing surrender.

Kyabram has a winnable game this Saturday when it hosts second bottom side Karramomus and needs the win to keep in contact with the top six.

Numurkah posted 6-166 off its 45 overs with Jason Parsons with 2-15 off nine overs the pick of the Kyabram bowlers.

Consistent Nick Chambers with a top score of 46 off 98 balls tried hard to hold the Kyabram innings together and got support from opener Jason Parsons (19) and Padeep Kumar (26).

But Kyabram’s last five batsmen could muster only seven runs to leave the team five runs short in its run chase.

Pine Lodge was on the ropes at 8-137 but a ninth wicket stand of 40 got it to within five runs of victory before the last two batsmen got it over the line.

Brenton Brasier with 3-28 was the most successful Kyabram bowler.

Opener Aidan Robinson and Mitch Fitzgerald showed the way with the bat for Kyabram with half-centuries but Jack Sinclair (23) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Robinson hit eight fours in his 51 and Fitzgerald six fours and two sixes in his knock of 53.