Cade Mueller made 39 in the preliminary final, featuring in a 62-run opening stand. Photos: Megan Fisher.
Coach and captain played significant roles at the weekend in steering Kyabram into Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield premiership showdown.
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Coach Jackson McLay and skipper Kyle Mueller proved match winners for Kyabram against Central Park St Brendan’s in the preliminary final at Kyabram.
McLay sent eight CPStB’s batsmen packing in a memorable big game bowling performance, while Mueller again played a vital innings to help the Redbacks put a winning score on the board.
McLay was the destroyer with the ball with stunning career best figures of 8/43 off 22.3 overs, including eight maidens.
Billy McLay offers no shot.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
He took the first three CPStB’s wickets to fall and the last five to wrap up the visitors innings for 123 in 52.3 overs, chasing Kyabram’s healthy score of 217.
CPStB’s top run-getter was Mitch Brett with 27.
McLay’s brother Charlie took one of the other two wickets, the tenth coming via run out, after another of the McLay brothers clan, Billy, had made the second top score for Kyabram in what turned into a McLay cricket extravaganza.
Jackson modestly admitted ‘’everything fell into place’’ for him personally to give his side the chance to win their second Haisman Shield flag in three years.
Cade Mueller guides it down to third man.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Kyle Mueller was again the anchor with the bat in Kyabram’s innings with another determined half century.
He won the toss on Saturday and elected to bat in perfect conditions before a large crowd on a flat batting wicket at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve.
Openers Billy McLay and Cade Mueller gave Kyabram the start their side was looking for with a stand of 62.
CPStB bowler Ramadan Yze sends the Kookaburra down the pitch.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Both batted cautiously, McLay contributing 48 off 118 deliveries with six boundaries, while Mueller fell for 39 off 90 balls with three fours and a six.
After they departed it was again left to Kyle Mueller to produce another captain’s knock to ensure Kyabram put a competitive score on the board.
He obliged again by holding the innings together with a marathon stint at the batting crease which produced a controlled 53 runs off 123 deliveries.
Only lower order batters Lukas Hanslow, with 19 off 27 deliveries, and Charlie McLay (17) offered any worthwhile support to Mueller who has shown this season he can be an innings anchor as well as a rapid run gatherer when needed.
Billy McLay nicks one behind into the waiting gloves CPStB wicket keeper Nate Earl.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
CPStB’s most successful bowler was Jarrod Wakeling who claimed 5/83 off a marathon 26.5 overs with five maidens.
Brendan Scott with 2/72 off 21 overs was the only other multiple wicket taker for CPStB who dismissed Kyabram in 77.5 overs.
Kyabram now meets Waaia for the flag this weekend at Katandra and coach McLay has the faith in his team to win its second flag in the Haisman Shield competition.
CPStB fielder Jarrod Wakeling deters a run.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
‘‘We have talked about being determined and gritty whenever our situation has needed it, and we have been able to do that all season,’’ said Jackson.
He conceded Waaia was a team with several potential match winners, but he was confident his players will meet every challenge, which they have done all season.
Saturday’s final starts at 12.30pm and is being hosted by the Katandra Cricket Club.
Whitelock E-grade shield
Kyabram’s E-grade team also booked its spot in the final with a crushing preliminary final win over Northerners at Bunbartha on Saturday.
The Redbacks lost only one wicket chasing down Northerners score of 166 in 24.4 overs.
Openers Ethan Hart and Mathew McKiernan provided a dream start for the Kyabram run chase, both making half centuries before compulsory retirement.
Hart’s 51 retired contained six boundaries and two sixes while McKiernan blasted 11 fours in his knock of 53 retired off 54 deliveries.
Then, the reliable Dylan Lopez, with an unbeaten 39 with six fours and a six off only 22 deliveries, and Riley Nicholson with an unbeaten 19, delivered the knock-out blow to Northerners.
Northerners won the toss, elected to bat first, and reached 2/92 at one stage.
But the Kyabram bowlers, led by Jonathan Hipwell, responded positively to limit Northerners to a final score of 166.
Hipwell finished with 3/28 off six overs to crush Northerners middle order and was well-supported by opening bowler Lachlan Dennis with 2/25 off five overs, Ethan Hart 2/38 off six overs and Flynn Burrows with 1/31 off six overs.
Kyabram now meets Waaia for the premiership at Mooroopna this Saturday with a 12.30pm start.
The two sides have met twice this season and have each won one so it looks another tight contest.
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