Mueller left spectators and teammates amazed — and opponents dismayed — as he crafted an incredible 131 runs from 115 deliveries in what will be remembered as one of the Kyabram captain’s most spectacular innings.
The damaging left-hander’s century, the fifth of his Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield career, came in Saturday’s 93-run round six win over Old Students.
The Redbacks skipper scored a mind-boggling 131 of his side’s total of 192 runs.
With his side 2-9, Mueller remained unbeaten at the crease after 44 overs in a knock that will go down in Kyabram history.
The young away side put up a real fight with the ball, but unfortunately came up against one of the competition’s most talented cricketers.
Kyabram playing coach Jackson McLay watched on while at the crease and back in the club rooms as Mueller belted 10 boundaries and eight sixes.
McLay called the individual effort as “one of the best he’d seen” and likened it to another big name from the town of Kyabram.
“Kyle was outstanding; he put the whole team on his back and got us to a defendable score. It was outstanding,” McLay said.
“He hit the ball as clean as I’ve ever seen. After the match we sat around and none of us don’t think we can recall an innings like it. Newmo’s (Paul Newman) knock in last year’s semi-final was very similar.
“I knew that a big score was just around the corner, he has been unlucky with how he’s gotten out and he’s one of the hardest workers I know. It’s no surprise what he’s able to achieve.”
McLay said Mueller’s impressive knock consisted of two contrasting moments.
The first period, which saw him rely on his clean striking and stingy defence, was followed by a devastating flurry of hits that one might reserve for the game’s shortest format.
From overs 39 to 45 the Redbacks scored 51 runs — thanks to Mueller.
The 43rd over from Ash Young went for 17 runs and consisted of two sixes and a boundary.
Number 11 bat Lukas Hanslow may have not scored the bulk of the runs, but he weathered the storm and stuck around long enough for Mueller to etch his name into Redbacks folklore.
“His first 80 runs were absolutely first-class. He showed a lot of fight and he put the bad balls away,” McLay said.
“But when the ninth wicket fell it was as if he just flicked a switch. His next 40-50 runs came off about four overs and people were actually moving their cars from the boundary just so they wouldn’t get hit.”
The spinners on both sides performed strongly, with Old Students’ Liam Callegari the pick of the visitors with 4-38.
Kyabram’s Darin Ohlsen nabbed classy figures of 4-11, while Kaine Herbert and Adam Nunn bowled tight lines and brought pressure on Old Students who were bowled out for 99.
THE GAME
Kyabram 192 (Kyle Mueller 131, Adam Nunn 16, Liam Callegari 4-38, Callan McCabe 3-19) d Old Students 99 (Luke McPhillamy 27, Oscar Lambourn 17, Darin Ohlsen 4-11, Charlie McLay 2-34)
STAR PLAYER
Kyle Mueller (Kyabram): No surprises here. It was a one-man show in Kyabram’s first innings with Mueller bringing up his fifth Haisman Shield ton in a knock that will live long in Kyabram supporters’ memories.
