Waaia’s Jesse Trower collected a 10-wicket match as the Bombers rolled Old Students in back-to-back innings.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Waaia bowled the wheels off Old Students on Saturday.
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After posting a stupendous 321 with the bat in the the first innings, it was a pre-written script that the Bombers looked likely to walk off the park with full points in the bag.
But the manner in which they went about it sent a clear message across the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield bows: Mitch Cleeland’s charges are not to be trifled with.
Old Students walked out to bat at Waaia Recreation Reserve at 1-0 after Noah Muir was removed by Jesse Trower on day one and soon the visitors were 2-16 as Trower crashed Jamie Carr’s castle for eight.
Trower could not be stopped with Maninderjit Singh departing for a duck and Felix Odell snicking behind for single digits, turning Old Students’ steep task into a mountain of Andes-like proportions.
Old Students batter Jamie Carr gets his bat out early to defend.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Waaia wicket keeper Jordan Cleeland gives a wry smile after the ball whizzes past the bails.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Waaia bowler Connor Brown gets up to the top of his mark.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Old Students’ Sam O'Brien and Maninderjit Singh chat tactics in the middle.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Old Students’ Maninderjit Singh looks to tickle the ball away from his pads.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Waaia’s Will Trower claimed four wickets during Old Students’ first innings.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Waaia fielder Brenton Low gets his hands on the pill.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Yet one young bat refused to bend under the pressure.
Sam O’Brien kept pushing and prodding, making his way towards a deserved half-century — but Will Trower had other ideas.
Trower removed O’Brien for 45 to send Students into a spiral and, 15 overs later, the game was as good as done with Waaia bowling the travellers out for 87.
Jesse Trower reaped 4-27, while Will Trower followed closely behind with 4-29.
Waaia’s devastating display with the rock made for sensational viewing in the home fans’ eyes, yet it only appeared to be the matinee given what transpired next.
The Bombers enforced the follow on and sent Old Students back into bat, proceeding to slice through their adversaries in record fashion as Vince Gagliardi’s side struggled to break the shackles.
Muir was the first domino to fall in the sixth over and, from there, it was open season for Waaia as the host picked off the batters one by one.
Who led the charge? Who else but Jesse Trower.
Connor Brown picked up two early wickets to allow Trower to whisk through Students’ order quick smart, finishing on 6-8 and spearheading the visitors’ downfall on 57.
Remarkably, Saturday’s commanding performance still leaves Waaia nine points off a finals placing, though the Bombers still have a game in hand over the sides above them.
THE GAME
Waaia 321 (Damien Atkins 104, Lachlan Henderson 46, Liam Callegari 4-87) d Old Students 87 (Sam O’Brien 45, Jesse Trower 4-27) & 57 (Noah Muir 18, Jesse Trower 6-8)
STAR PLAYER
Jesse Trower (Waaia): He may not have the same number of wickets as last season, but Jesse Trower proved he’s just as dangerous with this searing 10-wicket match effort.
Old Students remain one spot behind in eighth, eyeing off another tricky fixture against Tatura on Saturday.
