Electing to get the first hit, United’s line-up suffered the early loss of Jessie Barassi before Mel Saunders once again stood up with the bat.
Seeking to keep herself firmly in the conversation for the GMC women’s leading run-scorer gong, Saunders produced when those around her simply could not withstand the Tigers’ attack.
The Tigers stumbled heavily out of the blocks in chasing 75 for victory, falling to an astonishing 3-2 as Thushali Premarathna went on an early tear.
Matilda Iddles provided some desperately needed stability rather than taking an offensive focus, and the patience paid off after retiring not-out.
Katrina Chapman took United’s bowlers to task in a swashbuckling spell, mashing 32 off 28 balls (five fours, one six) to put an exclamation mark on the Tigers’ remarkable recovery with almost eight overs to spare.
Katamatite coach Mark Haberfield was proud of the resilience on display.
“We really got prepared during the week for it, and made sure the girls were on-point early with a comprehensive look at (Shepparton’s) side Thursday night,” Haberfield said.
“To play as complete a game as we did was pleasing, and being a newly-formed club, it’s nice for the girls to get reward for effort.
“Katrina has played some high-level cricket in her younger years, and she’s a good voice around the club.
“With Matilda about to turn 14, the game’s ahead of her, and we’ll remember the day she played for Katamatite.”
Haberfield reserved enormous praise for 13-year-old Eve Snowdon, making her GMC debut after playing her junior cricket at Murrabit in the Swan Hill DCA.
Snowdon’s remarkable 3-9 off five overs added another layer of emerging talent.
“It’s pleasing to have a girl like Eve, who bowled the fastest spell I’ve ever seen in women’s cricket,” Haberfield said.
“The keeper was standing as far back as they do in the men’s A-grade. You had to be there to believe it!”
Katamatite’s victory brings them to 5-3, and firmly entrenches Haberfield’s charges in a logjam for finals places.
The Tigers will be extremely heavy favourites to dish it out against Cooma (0-8) next Sunday, while Shepparton United (6-2) has had its upper-crust ambitions upended and will need to regroup.
United has maintained third place, directly above the Tigers.
United’s trajectory largely mirrors that of Katamatite’s, meeting a struggling side up next in Rochester (1-7) but with its own ambitions of a top-two berth heavily hampered by upcoming byes.
Just four points separate ladder-leading Mooroopna from fifth-ranked Nagambie, and all five top teams will host their own fixtures.
Haberfield’s closing message was one for the future.
“We’re always looking for new players as well, and we want to invite anyone who wants to have a hit on a Thursday night to get involved,” Haberfield said.
