Man of the match: Katandra’s Hadleigh Sirett.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Katandra has revived its Haisman Shield campaign following a miraculous one-wicket win over Northerners on Saturday.
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Chasing the Jets’ total of 166, the Eagles did it the hard way with talented all-rounder Hadleigh Sirett (48 runs) hitting the winning runs with 19 balls to spare.
With wickets tumbling around him — thanks to Joel Brett (5-40) at his damaging best — and nine batters down, Sirett saw an opportunity to win the match off his own bat.
Sirett’s outfit still required seven runs to win at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve when teenager and number 11 bat Billy Holmes strolled out to the middle.
It was now or never for Katandra to win the match.
Sirett crunched the Jets’ Stuart Turner for a boundary and a six which delivered the Eagles a memorable victory — their third of the season.
“Yeah (the heart rate) was a bit elevated at the end there,” Katandra co-captain Ben Clurey said.
“Joel was on fire and got a wicket with the last ball of his spell, but it was also a relief because he was done for the day. The next over Hadleigh was on strike and first ball he hit it to the fielder on the boundary and they didn’t run.
“I think he must have told Billy ‘I’ll try take it from here’. And he found the boundary a ball later which meant we needed three to win and decided to knock it over the fence.
“It was awesome to be honest.”
Clurey praised Sirett’s run-a-ball knock, one that consisted of three sixes.
“It’s nice to have him back in the side and performing well,” he said.
“He had a side strain before Christmas and then he missed games for family and work reasons, but it’s great to have him in.
“He’s got heaps of experience and he was terrific as that finisher with the bat for us during our premiership year.”
Clurey spoke glowingly of his outfit’s strike bowlers Corey Hickford (4-29) and Jedd Wright (3-29) — who produced a vital 43 runs with the willow.
The Eagles’ leader also credited the brave innings of Northerners youngster and number 10 batter Harvey Walker (39 not out).
Spirited knock: Northerners’ Harvey Walker.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
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Safe hands: Katandra’s Ben Clurey.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
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On all fours: Katandra’s Nathan Hickey.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
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Quick single: Northerners’ Grant Hutchins.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Walker helped push his side to a strong total when it looked like capitulating at 8-99.
“Both Corey and Jedd bowled really well and put us in a strong position,” Clurey said.
“But well done to him (Harvey) I thought he did a great job because they got another 40 more runs than we wanted.”
The outcome is the Jets’ second straight loss and the outfit now finds itself a game behind the leading trio, Central Park-St Brendan’s, Mooroopna and Waaia.
Katandra is now eyeing off a spot inside the top six and sits a game behind fifth-placed Kyabram.
Northerners 166 (Harvey Walker 39 not out, Mitch Brett 35, Corey Hickford 4-29, Jedd Wright 3-29) lt Katandra 9-169 (Hadleigh Sirett 48 not out, Jedd Wright 43, Joel Brett 5-40)
STAR PLAYER
Hadleigh Sirett (Katandra): The powerful big hitter just pipped teammate Jedd Wright for the star player nod this week thanks to his run-a-ball unbeaten 48. With his side nine wickets down and with a batter at the crease, Sirett took it upon himself to win the match with a four and a six over the fence. Talk about nerves of steel.
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