It was a good day in the field for the reigning premier Kyabram and recruit Shafiqullah Maroofkhel.
Photo by
Holly Daniel
There was no doubt about the better-situated grand finalist from last season when this clash was all said and done.
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Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield reigning premier Kyabram made the trip to Mooroopna, taking on the Cats within the unusual confines of John Gray Oval rather than the main pitch, with the Redbacks taking on first scoring duties.
Billy McLay, who will be wearing red and black year-round after committing to Kyabram’s 2025 Goulburn Valley League campaign, went on his merry way despite the early departure of opposite opener Paul Parsons.
It was steady as she goes for McLay, who survived long enough to partner the dynamic Kyle Mueller on what eventually became a century partnership.
Mueller, simply put, has no plans on slowing down his sporting achievements after becoming a goal-kicking centurion and Murray Football League premiership player a month ago.
His attachment to centuries would not end there, swashbuckling his way to two bat raises courtesy of 10 fours and three sixes in a free-flowing offensive display.
Mueller’s unbeaten 102 did more than its share to set the table as seven Mooroopna bowlers ultimately had few answers, left to chase 223 in hope of avoiding a 0-2 start.
Kyabram's Cade Mueller puts his body on the line fielding.
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Holly Daniel
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Mooroopna's Tasman Hall scoops one out for a single.
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Holly Daniel
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Mooroopna's Joel May flicks it off the pad.
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Holly Daniel
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Kyabram's Charlie McLay comes steaming in at full tilt.
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Holly Daniel
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Kyabram's Ethan Hart lobs it in from the outfield.
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Holly Daniel
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Kyabram's Charlie McLay does the hard yards stopping a ball.
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Holly Daniel
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Kyabram's Jackson McLay is fully into his motion.
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Holly Daniel
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Mooroopna's Joel May and Tasman Hall scurry through for a run.
Photo by
Holly Daniel
A new-look opening Mooroopna duo Tasman Hall and Joel May provided a much better start than their top-order adversaries, the latter finding the rope four times and powerfully keeping the line moving en route to a well-crafted 52.
Once Louis Sabbagh-Holt knocked him over, though, things went south in a hell of a hurry for the home side.
Brodie McDonald met the same fate with the next delivery and the Cats were staring down an embarrassing hole in suddenly losing 3-0.
Import Ethan Baker steadied as best he could, but once Jack Donnell left him clean bowled with 101 runs left to find and three wickets in hand, it was essentially sorted.
With nothing left to lose Jack Gaskill came in and torched for a brief period with a four and a six in his nine-ball cameo, but Billy McLay happily closed matters out with the final two wickets in his only three balls of the day to secure a mighty 74-run win.
THE GAME
Mooroopna 148 (Joel May 52, Louis Sabbagh-Holt 3-26, Billy McLay 2-3) lt Kyabram 5-222 (Kyle Mueller 102*, Billy McLay 46, Henry Barrow 2-37)
STAR PLAYER
Kyle Mueller (Kyabram): Like he never left, Mueller is accruing big numbers wherever he goes at the moment. His scorching unbeaten ton brought the contest well and truly into Kyabram’s grasp as his side notched its first points of the season.
Coach Jackson McLay is keen to see a lift from his men despite the comprehensive result.
“For us, it was all about our top four and Kyle pushing on with a hundred took it away completely,” McLay said.
“He’s a fantastic player who takes responsibility and that allowed some of our batters a free swing at the back end.
“I thought 220 was only par on that wicket, but our bowling was really good at times and after drinks, we just changed the game.
“For us, we’re not playing anywhere near our best in my opinion. It’s just about doing the basics and being as consistent as possible and we know we’re a hard team to beat when that happens.”
McLay paid tribute to the day’s star man with the bat and looked ahead to a Shepparton Youth Club United side which had put up solid numbers across the Midland Hwy despite a last-gasp defeat to Numurkah.
“Kyle’s a pretty talented cricketer, but that only gets you so far,” McLay said.
“He puts ownership on himself in the middle not to be satisfied with 20 or 30 and that’s why he gets that output.
“We’re extremely lucky to have him because he’s just a freak, but he drives everyone else to be better and play with freedoms.
“United looks like it recruited pretty well in the off-season with some rounded players and I believe they’ll be thereabouts this year.”
