Shepparton United finished the opening day of its round 10 clash in the box seat to clinch a fourth win of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield campaign and keep the pressure on its top six rivals.
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Old Students will resume day two 0-5, trailing Shepparton United by 227 runs following two superb half-centuries by Rehan Bari (81 runs) and Hugh Conway (63).
Winning the toss and electing to bat first at Kialla Park, Shepparton United got its innings off to a slow and steady start.
Negating the stingy opening bowling spell of Students’ Callan McCabe and Mohammad Shahid, the hosts hunted for a breakthrough wicket and tossed spinner Liam Callegari the ball.
McCabe’s decision was rewarded in the 16th over as Callegari dismissed Mitch Jarrett before the talented leggie went on to claim the wickets of Angus Lake and Dan Jones in the 18th and 20th over respectively.
The departure of Jones brought the maestro Bari to the crease.
Bari, who has enjoyed a sublime summer to date, went on to score 81 off 119 deliveries as he pummelled eight boundaries and two sixes.
THE GAME
Shepparton United 232 (Rehan Bari 81, Hugh Conway 63, Jake Smith 24, Liam Callegari 5-86, Oscar Lambourn 3-28) v Old Students 0-5 ( Sam O’Brien 2 not out, Noah Muir 1 not out).
He had quality support from Conway, with the middle-order bat contributing 61 from 62 deliveries in a knock that featured six boundaries and two hits over the rope.
Teenager Oscar Lambourn (3-28) picked up the prize scalp of Bari thanks to the safe hands of his junior teammate Sam O’Brien.
Callegari was rewarded once more an over later when Conway found O’Brien in the field.
Despite the visitors’ bottom five batters only contributing 22 runs between them, the damage was already done by their two standout performers as United reached 232 from 73 overs.
Callegari was the pick of the bowlers with his second five-for haul of the season as he finished with impressive figures of 5-86 from 26.4 overs.
Old Students’ Noah Muir and O’Brien faced three overs at the end of the day and managed to finish unbeaten with a large run chase ahead of them.