Workhorse: Waaia's Jesse Trower put in yet another critical shift for the high-flying Bombers, but it wasn’t to be.
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Rechelle Zammit
Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield affairs between Waaia and Mooroopna rarely disappoint for competitiveness or intensity and this was no exception.
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The Cats did enough to survive their second chance in this finals series after falling short of Kyabram’s total in week one, accomplishing a tidy 36-run preliminary final victory and completing a double over its rivals in season 2023-24.
With a win-or-go-home situation in effect this time, Waaia Recreation Reserve had another tooth-and-nail contest after Mooroopna had set the Bombers 187 for victory on day one.
In scenes that observers have become more than accustomed to, Jesse Trower led the way in a workhorse shift with a pivotal five-wicket haul, though it was Connor Brown who made the first breakthrough after some initial resistance.
Though the top order failed to string much momentum together, Henry Barrow arrived in a big way at seven.
Even down to the Cats’ final partnership between Barrow and Aaron Di Fede, Mooroopna’s prospective total looked lean until the Englishman went to work with three boundaries in his side’s last complete over.
Raising the bat immediately before the innings ended, Barrow pushed the Cats forward, setting Waaia a respectable 187 for victory.
How many more?: Waaia's Mitchell Cleeland.
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Rechelle Zammit
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All mine: Waaia's Will Trower.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Careful approach: Mooroopna's Brodie McDonald.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Tidy with the gloves: Waaia's Brayden Carey.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Plan of attack: Mooroopna's Brodie McDonald and Nick Breslin.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Having a laugh: Waaia's Brayden Summerville.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Hustling down: Mooroopna's Nick Breslin.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Rearing back: Waaia's Mitchell Cleeland.
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Rechelle Zammit
The Bombers were up against it from the off, with Brayden Carey removed in hardly any time at all.
The minor premiers — whose only regular-season blemish came at Mooroopna’s hands on this ground — languished at 4-40 before the tea break.
The Cleeland brothers shouldered the unenviable load of correcting course following Luke Zanchetta’s early demolition job.
Once Mitch, the more aggressive of the pair, departed off Barrow’s bowling three runs shy of raising the bat, ending the 64-run stand, the beginning of the end began to loom.
Jordan fell nine runs later for 32 at a strike rate of less than 20 and, despite Trower’s quest for longevity in the closing stages, Zanchetta completed the job to complete a five-for of his own.
THE GAME
Waaia 150 (Mitch Cleeland 47, Jordan Cleeland 32, Luke Zanchetta 5-54) lt Mooroopna 186 (Henry Barrow 53, Jac Smith Williams 26, Jesse Trower 5-44)
STAR PLAYER
Luke Zanchetta (Mooroopna): Struck fast and furiously in reducing Waaia’s main offence to smithereens before his clean-up job in the twilight sealed Mooroopna’s path to a grand final.
Beyond doubt, Mooroopna has proven itself Waaia’s kryptonite, but according to Sam O’Brien, there’s been no magic recipe to unseating the Bombers.
“We’ve certainly had good battles with them over the years since they joined the comp,” O’Brien said.
"We’re just lucky enough to come away with the win again and it was a good team effort to get us over the line.
“It was a tough battle for sure; we had some very good individual performances and they stuck true.
“It was a good battle right to the end; good, honest cricket got us over the line.”
At the top of the Cats’ contributors was undoubtedly Zanchetta, who clamped down on Waaia’s top order and never truly allowed the chase to reach top gear from there.
“Luke’s a spectacular cricketer. He’s been huge for us since he joined,” O’Brien said.
“It wasn’t just him that got us over the line, though. I thought that Jack Gaskill bowled extremely well on a wicket that wasn’t spin-friendly.”
From a side the Cats have covered to one that had their number just a week ago — this task separates Mooroopna from the premiership after Kyabram advanced from its preliminary final with ease.
“Kyabram’s a good side and they’ve proven that over the years,” O’Brien said.
“We’ll control what we can control and worry about Cats cricket.
“Kyle (Mueller) is a fantastic cricketer and the whole league knows that, but we’ll just try to control the controllable.”
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