Haisman Shield | Numurkah travels to Waaia in do-or-die final

By Daniel Webb

Mar 3, 2022

Ready to go: Brayden Carey’s side is looking to go one better than last year. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

The Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield finals are here and the equation is simple.

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For Waaia, safe passage to the semi-finals is guaranteed.

A win against Numurkah on Saturday will have the Bombers fly through to the semis, while a loss will also have them through as the highest-placed loser.

For Numurkah things are a little more high stakes.

A win against Waaia will have the Blues progress, while a loss will be the end of their season.

Numurkah captain Dylan Grandell said his side was looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s always great to play in finals,” Grandell said.

“Waaia has been in fantastic form and obviously they are the form team of the competition, so we’re looking forward to heading out there and giving it our best shot.”

Grandell said if Numurkah played at its best, his side would give Waaia a run for its money.

“I think anyone in the top six is capable of winning it this year, every game in the finals is a big challenge that’s for sure,” he said.

“Our bowling performance will go a long way to being competitive in the game.”

Waaia captain Brayden Carey said his side was feeling pretty good.

“We’re feeling good, we’re fit and ready to go,” Carey said.

Like Grandell, Carey said any of the final six teams could take out the title this year.

“You wouldn’t look at any of the teams and say ‘they’ve got no chance of winning it’ as in previous years you might have,” he said.

Despite any team being able to win, it would be hard to argue that Waaia is not the red-hot favourite for this year’s competition.

The Bombers did not lose a game in the regular season and have picked up a double chance in the finals, something Carey said his side would not aim to use.

“We certainly won’t be taking it lightly and we’ll be treating it as if it’s do-or-die,” he said.

“You just see it as an opportunity to end another team’s season and that’s what you’re looking to do every game in finals.

“We’ll be confident, but we won’t be taking anyone lightly and we know that it can be taken away from you.

“After last year I think there is a bit of unfinished business for everyone, after having gone down by the smallest of margins in the grand final last year, we’ll be champing at the bit to get there again.”