It was Waaia’s fourth straight win to start the 2024-25 season, however, the Bombers didn’t get off to an electric start on Saturday at Katandra Recreation Reserve.
After losing the toss and being sent into field, the Eagles made a few early inroads with the ball to gain ascendancy early.
Import Seth Westley was on fire for Katandra, skittling the dangerous Liam Evans, before delivering the same fate to Damien Atkins a few overs later.
Waaia sat in a precarious position at 5-37 after 13.3 overs, however, Bombers captain, and arguably the league’s most in-form batter, Mitch Cleeland was able to steer his side clear of an embarrassing collapse.
The seasoned batter formed partnerships with Brenton Low (23 runs off 62 balls) and Jesse Trower (31* off 44) to help rescue Waaia and take the Bombers to a competitive 8-178 after their 45 overs.
Cleeland was eventually dismissed by Katandra’s Andrew Riordan after he struck a commanding 74 runs off 87 deliveries, including five boundaries and three sixes.
Waaia’s captain leads the league for runs with a total of 255 — one ahead of Kyabram’s Kyle Mueller — after scores of 110, 26, 45 and 74 across the first four rounds.
Cleeland said he was not quite sure what had led to his avalanche of runs, but he hoped it continues.
“Things are just clicking at the minute,” Cleeland said.
“I can’t put a finger on it, to be honest, it is probably more of a mental change from my point of view.
“Making sure you are not getting carried away with where you are at (in an innings) and being able to stick at it for an extended period of time.
“I certainly won’t take it for granted and I’ll take it as it comes.”
In a similar fashion to the start of the match, Waaia struggled through the first half of the second innings, with Katandra sitting on 1-104 after 30.2 overs.
However, as he often does, Trower stood up with the Kookaburra in hand and ripped through Katandra’s Bailey Simpson (29 off 63), before cannoning into the pads of captain Stephen Barrett a couple of balls later.
From there the wickets came tumbling down as Katandra’s defence crumbled.
The Eagles only lasted another eight overs as the Bombers laid blow after blow.
THE GAME
Katandra 121 (Ben Clurey 34, Ben Pedretti 33, Liam Evans 3-11) lt Waaia 8-178 (Mitch Cleeland 74, Jesse Trower 31*, Seth Westley 3-24)
STAR PLAYER
Mitch Cleeland (Waaia): Once again, Waaia’s captain stood up when it mattered and dragged his side back into the contest. Arguably, Liam Evans’ effort with the ball (3-11 from nine overs) was also match-winning, but the Bombers were on their knees at 5-37 when Cleeland saved them, so the honours fall to the captain.
Cleeland said his bowlers finding consistency was the key to Waaia’s turnaround.
“We just tried to bowl consistently and try and force an error,” he said.
“For those first 30 overs, we were consistently bowling one bad ball an over which was letting us down.
“When we managed to flick that switch and turn that into six good balls an over, everything started to change for us.”
Katandra was eventually rolled for 121 in a disappointing 57-run loss at home against a fellow finals contender.
Although batters from both sides struggled at times, Cleeland said the pitch was in great condition.
“The scoreboard didn’t do the pitch justice,” he said.
“We thought 180 was a fraction under par; we thought we would need 200-220 to be in the game.
“Not that there wasn’t anything in it for the bowlers, but if you applied yourself with the bat, it was certainly a nice wicket to bat on.”
This weekend Katandra will head to Howley Oval to take on top-of-the-table Tatura, while Waaia has the bye.
