Walking into the sheds on Saturday, Katandra was riding high on a mixture of excitement, hope and a little bit of fizz after the Eagles dominated Nagambie in their round 10 Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield clash.
However, backtrack to the weekend prior and the Katandra rooms would have had the atmosphere of a morgue as Stephen Barrett joined Mitch Black at the crease at 4-15.
Katandra’s miraculous recovery in the first innings — thanks to Hadleigh Sirett who struck 82 not out batting at eight — meant the Eagles were able to post an impressive tally of 8-226 from their 80 overs.
The Eagles’ lower-order prowess with the willow meant the Lakers were on the backfoot coming into the second day’s play on Saturday at Katandra Recreation Reserve.
Heading into the round 10 fixture, Nagambie sat third on the ladder, while Katandra was on the precipice of the top six in seventh.
The Eagles’ opening bowling trio of Seth Westley (2-31 from 10.4 overs), Corey Hickford (1-14 from seven) and Sam Green (1-6 from six) must have had a good night’s rest on Friday as they came bolting out of the blocks to start the innings.
Bowling a solid line and length Hickford dismissed the all-important Luke Nolan for a duck as the Eagles restricted the Lakers to 5-44 inside 20 overs.
The opening quicks may have enjoyed their time in the sun early, but as the innings progressed, the spinning duo of Bailey Simpson (3-27 from 19) and Andrew Riordan (3-18 from 13) took control of the game.
Simpson has emerged this summer as one of the young guns and future stars of the league.
The all-rounder has taken a big leap in his development at the Eagles, averaging 27 with the bat and taking 14 wickets as an off-spinner.
Despite a small act of defiance from skipper Mark Nolan (37 runs off 102 balls) Nagambie failed to fire a shot during a disappointing day for the club on the road.
Mitch Winter-Irving was the next highest run-scorer with 20 from 37 balls.
Katandra faces a kind draw with its run home to the two-day finals series.
The Eagles will travel to Mooroopna after the Australia Day bye on February 1 for their final one-day match for the season.
Katandra will then play Euroa and Shepparton Youth Club United for the last two-day fixtures before finals.
For Nagambie, the Lakers will be eager to bounce back from their 118-run loss.
Nolan’s side has a tough run home, with the Lakers scheduled to play fellow aspiring finalists Waaia (one-day match), Numurkah and Tatura (two-day games) in the final few weeks of the home and away season.
THE GAME
Katandra 8-226 (Hadleigh Sirett 82* Brady Black 37, Mark Nolan 4-63) d Nagambie 108 (Mark Nolan 37, Mitch Winter-Irving 20, Andrew Riordan 3-18)
STAR PLAYER
Hadleigh Sirett (Katandra): What more can be said about this veteran Eagle's impact this summer? Sirett was the key contributor with the bat for Katandra during the first innings with a match-winning 82*. While still being one of the league’s premier bowlers, Sirett is also averaging 101.5 with the bat this season.
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