Following a gutting Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield loss to Waaia the week prior, the Eagles cut down high-flying Tatura in a sizzling chase on Saturday’s pleasantly warm afternoon.
Two men — the balmy army, if you will — made the most of the conditions.
Hunting 173, openers Ben Clurey and Ben Pedretti stacked on 115 runs for the first wicket and expedited Katandra’s victory on a day for the batters at Howley Oval.
Captain Pedretti was stoked to exorcise the demons of a below-par showing against Waaia in round four, demonstrating the Eagles can still bat with the best of them.
“It was satisfying after last week when we were probably in control and then we really felt like we let one slip. It was really good to bounce back in that fashion,” he said.
“They (Tatura) got off to a really good start, they batted really well early and they put a lot of pressure on us.
“They were probably looking at a score of 240 really the way they were going; it was a pretty flat deck and the outfield was fast.
“To peg them back to what we did and control momentum back our way was really good.”
There was no hyperbole in Pedretti’s assumption of Tatura’s batting innings — the host was on one.
Import Matthew West took the lead, while Daniel Coombs played the supporting role and both had nearly launched their side to 50 runs in 11 overs before the latter fell after venturing into double digits.
Chaz Cheatley (10) met a similar end, bringing Blake Armstrong to the crease.
The 21-year-old all-rounder has found revolutionary form during the 2024-25 season and Saturday proved no different as he set about waxing off runs like usual.
West eventually packed his bags for 57 in a daring display and, though, Armstrong would follow suit and raise his willow — making his fourth half-century of the season — 57 was the unlucky number as he too departed for the figure.
Katandra whizzed through the rest of Tatura’s order with no player making it past eight runs, with Eagles Andrew Riordan (3-35), Ray Ireland (2-20), Sam Green (2-30) and Seth Westley (2-34) doing the damage.
But if Tatura thought its own start was good, Katandra had the host holding its proverbial beer.
Clurey and Pedretti set off some refined batting pyrotechnics as they raced to the 100 team runs mark, combining for 22 boundaries.
Pedretti holed out first on 56, while Clurey made it to 75 before Jayden Armstrong trapped him LBW, with the final 30 winning runs left to be hit by Stephen Barrett (23 not out) and Bailey Simpson (16 not out).
The victorious skipper spoke about his stand with Clurey, stating it was precisely what the doctor ordered in response to the Waaia misfire.
“We were probably a bit on the defensive side last week and were maybe 10 or 20 runs behind, so it was good to get off to a bit of a faster start,” he said.
“We’re trying to chase at least one hundred-run partnership each time we bat and it was nice to get that at the top.
“Benny Clurey batted really well; he batted well last week, so it was good to see him keep going in that sort of fashion.”
THE GAME
Tatura 172 (Matthew West 57, Blake Armstrong 57, Andrew Riordan 3-35) lt Katandra 2-176 (Ben Clurey 75, Ben Pedretti 56, Jayden Armstrong 1-27)
STAR PLAYER
Ben Clurey (Katandra): Katandra’s opener was at his purest best against Tatura, slashing 12 to the ropes in a game-defining innings alongside his skipper.
Now, Katandra’s attention turns to Numurkah.
The Blues are the only 5-0 side left after the opening burst of one-day action, but with the beast of two-day cricket reappearing in round six, Pedretti says bring it on.
“It’s exciting — they’re another side off to a really fast start,” he said.
“Two-day cricket is a tougher format, so we’re really looking forward to the challenge of two-day cricket and running into a really good side like Numurkah.
“We can’t wait to get into it.”
