After a stuttering start to this season’s Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield which had Kyabram languishing at 1-4 after last week’s heartbreaker against Mooroopna, the Redbacks have more than found their groove.
Anything can theoretically happen in a two-day fixture, but Euroa will need considerably more than it has so far produced to have a shot at salvaging a respectable scoreline on day two.
The Mueller boys have stolen the headlines together ― Cade and skipper Kyle producing massive centuries to put the tie all but out of the Magpies’ reach.
THE GAME SO FAR
Kyabram 4-407 (Kyle Mueller 158, Cade Mueller 115, Cohen Paul 3-151) v Euroa
A 230-run partnership between the two for the third Kyabram wicket is a stand that rivals the great knocks detailed in The News’ recent look back at top Haisman Shield feats.
Cohen Paul was Euroa’s lone shining light, taking three of the four wickets the Magpies could manage inside 80 overs, including the crucial scalp of Cade Mueller on 111 to break up the almighty partnership.
Eventually retiring Kyle after he had raised the bat for a third time ― the first to do it in this year’s competition ― a spell that could save Kyabram’s season finally drew to a close as day one concluded with the home side at 4-407.
Kyabram’s Jackson McLay had plenty of praise after his side’s remarkable effort.
“To bat out was our first objective and to do it only four down was a really pleasing effort,” McLay said.
“Getting 400 was fantastic and the Mueller boys were supported well by Paul Parsons.
“The aim of any side that bats first is to get through 80 overs and we were the only side to do that.”
After four years without two-day cricket, the Redbacks do indeed hold the distinction of being the only team to survive the longer format’s return batting first.
But of course, hand in hand with that achievement is the star act that took over the middle of the day.
“Both the Mueller boys were fantastic, putting on 230 that was pretty much chanceless,” McLay said.
“It goes to show how disciplined they were throughout the innings. Their fitness levels are right up there with their running at the end.
“Not having played two-day for so long, a lot of teams probably struggled to get that discipline back, but they were fantastic the way they controlled the innings.”
Experiencing an interrupted start to the competition this year in their own right, the still-winless Magpies will need to more than double their best effort so far this season in the 45-over game to get anywhere near a result.
In McLay’s eyes, such an advantage will not translate to a half-hearted day two.
“It’s a big score, but we spoke after the game about not going through the motions next week,” McLay said.
“We want to put in a good all-around performance and we’re not going to roll out there to just go through it.
“We want to knock them over early and don’t want to take our foot off the pedal.”
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