Mooroopna hardly had it all its own way, but got the job done.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Two of Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield’s most damaging bowlers locked horns as Mooroopna and Pine Lodge met in Saturday’s late clash.
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The annual day-nighter at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve presented a desperately needed chance for both sides to take a confidence-boosting result into the new year.
After the Lodgers elected to set the pace, it looked like a season of growing pains in A-grade was set to continue the same way with opener Ryan Kearney and dangerous import Emile Haratbar removed on consecutive balls.
Mooroopna's Henry Barrow and Ethan Baker exchange bowling responsiblities.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Pine Lodge's Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige had himself a breakthrough innings.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna keeper Ben Woods had a fine day with two catches behind.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Corey Meyer has to retrieve the long ball over the fence.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Jack Gaskill delivers powerfully.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Pine Lodge recuperates and strategises during a drink break.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Jordan Wiggins keeps it steady in the field.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Ethan Baker was profiled in The News earlier this week.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Pine Lodge's Hayden Cann steadied the ship brilliantly in the early going.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Thankfully, though, there was Hayden Cann to help balance the books and prevent the kind of collapse that could have seen this 3.30pm start wrap up at about the same time as the early-afternoon games.
Cann did virtually all the heavy lifting in his partnership with Liam Trevaskis, able to take more of a load off when Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige arrived in the middle to embark on a half-century partnership.
The offensive baton was exchanged seamlessly between the two, with Cann’s eight fours and one six bringing about a resolute 52 before Loku Hettige continued to hold the fort after Henry Barrow struck once more — going on to claim a five-for once the dust settled.
He would relentlessly flummox the Cats’ attack, bashing his way to the rope 11 times and eventually carrying through to the Lodgers’ conclusion, posting an unbeaten 85 at almost a run a ball.
In doing so and setting Mooroopna 183 to win, the visitors lasted all 45 allotted overs for the second time since rejoining the Haisman Shield — the first coming all the way back in round one against Katandra.
When Pine Lodge has needed a spark all eyes turn to Tiron Fernando, almost by default, and he delivered once more to provide some early jitters in the Cats’ rooms by dismissing Jordan Wiggins post-haste.
Beyond that early breakthrough, though, Fernando’s impact was unusually limited in going at an economy of more than four, expensive by his lofty standards.
The Cats matched their foes by inserting an import at three, with recently profiled all-rounder Ethan Baker stepping up to deliver his finest innings in this competition.
It was Joel May who proved the star of the show with willow in hand, playing the lead role in a 74-run stand for the second wicket and going on to raise the bat for the second time this season.
His swashbuckling 66 came with six fours and two maximums and by the time he finally nicked behind to Haratbar off Kearney, the Cats were in a position of command at 4-120.
Time was on the hosts’ side under the floodlights and some hard late running out of Brodie McDonald eventually brought them home to a five-wicket win with 20 balls to spare.
THE GAME
Mooroopna 5-184 (Joel May 66, Ethan Baker 37, Ryan Kearney 2-44) d Pine Lodge 8-182 (Darshana Prasad Loku Hettige 85*, Hayden Cann 52, Henry Barrow 5-22)
STAR PLAYER
Henry Barrow (Mooroopna): The Cats’ coach comprehensively took honours in the bowling battle with Tiron Fernando. The paceman delivered with scalps aplenty despite some stern Lodgers resistance, helping keep matters under control.
It remains a tall ask to parlay Mooroopna’s start to the year into a top-six charge, but you’d never say no to a second win or another set of points before Christmas.
The Lodgers remain at the foot of the table with a 0-9 record, but can take some positives out of their improvement on the scoreboard.
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