On Saturday afternoon, at Euroa Friendly Society Recreation Reserve, the Redbacks were strong in all three facets of the game against a young and inexperienced Magpies side.
After losing the toss and being sent into bowl, last season’s two-day premiers were on the mark from the start.
Kyabram’s Louis Sabbagh-Holt positioned himself at one end of the pitch and proceeded to spin a web for nine overs, finishing with figures of 2-11.
Down the other end Shafiqullah Maroofkhell was trialled as an opening bowler by captain Kyle Mueller and he lived up to the request, finishing with 1-17 from four overs.
Kyabram’s trio of brothers Jackson, Billy and Charlie McLay pitched in with the ball, taking six wickets between them.
Euroa’s Ryan Hill top-scored for his side, finishing on a run-a-ball 41 after being dismissed by Jackson McLay.
Meanwhile, Nic Hill (21 runs off 52 balls) and Andrew Squires (22 off 33) contributed with the willow.
The Magpies were eventually bowled out after 36.5 overs for 135.
In response, Kyabram got off to a strong start with the bat thanks to openers Billy McLay (35 off 48) and Paul Parsons (25 off 16).
After both openers were dismissed, brothers Cade and Kyle Mueller walked to the crease, with star Kyle determined to finish the match as quickly as possible.
Kyle blasted his third 50 of the summer — he is yet to score lower than 50 across the first four games — in blistering fashion, finishing on 50* from 32 balls.
His innings featured two boundaries and six sixes, with Kyabram coach Jackson McLay understandably full of praise for his star captain.
“There is no doubt (Kyle) is the best batter going around in our area,” McLay said.
“His ball striking and his hands through the ball is quite impressive, but he does do the work, which is good for the other boys to feed off.
“There were two really big (sixes); one down the ground off a poor young bowler who was on the end of it, but it was huge, to be honest.
“I will give Euroa some real credit, they have some real good young kids coming through and if they can stick together for the next few years they can build on that.
“I thought they were not far off and with a bit of hard work and natural progression, in the next couple years they will start climbing up the ladder.”
THE GAME
Euroa 135 (Ryan Hill 41, Louis Sabbagh-Holt 2-11, Jackson McLay 2-23) lt Kyabram 2-138 (Kyle Mueller 50*, Billy McLay 35, Oliver Wilson 1-28)
STAR PLAYER
Louis Sabbagh-Holt (Kyabram): The Redbacks’ star spinner was in fine form for Kyabram. Sabbagh-Holt tied down one end for his side and had an economy of 1.22 per over. The gun spinner has taken five wickets this season after claiming 28 last summer.
The Muellers were still there as the winning runs were struck at the end of the 22nd over, with Euroa’s Oliver Swain (1-37 from five overs) and Oliver Wilson (1-28 from four) the sole wicket-takers for the Magpies.
The result finished as a commanding eight-wicket victory to Kyrabram which now sits in fifth place on the ladder, while Euroa remains in last place.
Although his top-order dominated with the willow, McLay said batting was tough out in the middle.
“It was a pretty good game for us, Euroa are in a developing stage at the moment, but one-day cricket can be a bit of a dangerous game,” he said.
“It wasn’t the easiest wicket to bat on.
“We opened up with spin — it was spinning quite sharply from one end and I think we bowled all our overs from one end with spin.”
This weekend, Kyabram will host Pine Lodge, while Euroa will face Central Park-St Brendan’s in round five.
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