Mooroopna battens down the hatches as a prolific Kyabram outfit arrives looking to knock the Haisman Shield reigning premier off its perch in round six’s premier fixture.
Cats coach Luke Zanchetta has an inkling as to what will decide the result, noting a mammoth effort with the ball is imperative to stifling the Redbacks’ imposing batting line-up after conquering Euroa at Friendlies Oval.
“Euroa was a good side, the pitch was a bit up and down so to make a 100-odd on that was a pretty decent effort,” Zanchetta said.
“Ky are a different beast however; with the likes of Paul Newman and Kyle Mueller their top order is scoring for fun so it will be a massive test for us.
“Whoever wins the battle early on will take home the points — it will be a big opportunity for our bowlers.”
Winning the battle — early or otherwise — is what Kyabram has mastered so far in 2021.
However, facing the competition’s hottest commodity in Central Park, the Redbacks failed to chase a total for the first time this season, which eventuated in a last-gasp loss.
It wasn’t for want of trying, as far as Mueller was concerned.
Haisman Shield’s chief scorer has 283 runs so far this campaign, and clubbed an unbeaten 75 that almost carried Kyabram over the line last weekend.
Now the onus is on Zanchetta, who heads the Cats’ attack, to lead by example and cramp the free-scoring Redbacks — and he has developed a simple theory to make it happen.
“We’ll look to bowl as many good balls as we can and wait for the mistakes to come,” he said.
“I’ve been impressed with everyone so far this season, so we’ll just look to continue banking points and chase down what’s in front of us.”
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