Outside the first five overs ‒ where Northerners quick Josh Sidebottom claimed two early scalps ‒ the Redbacks showed they were in a different weight class to the young Jets, as they piled on a whopping first innings total of 8-249 before rolling the Jets for 96.
It was Kyabram’s special Ks who did the damage early, as gun all-rounder Kaine Herbert (69) and in-form skipper Kyle Mueller (65) combined for a critical 138-run stand to set up the monster total.
Before the Redbacks bowling attack took control, with the likes of Tom Holman (3-15), Alec Young (2-11), Angus McKenzie (2-16) and McLay (2-20) chipped in to keep the visitors under three figures.
Kyabram’s seventh win on the trot, McLay said it was fantastic to see his team execute all facets of its game.
“It was obviously a great performance, we managed to put that big score together with the bat before backing it up with a great bowling performance,” McLay said.
“All in all it was probably the most complete performance we’ve put together in a long time and shows we are really gelling well as a side at the minute.”
Winning the toss and batting first, it appeared an upset may be on the cards when the experienced swing bowling of Sidebottom ‒ who finished with figures of 5-42 ‒ had both Redbacks openers back in the pavilion early.
This would bring Herbert and Mueller to the crease and, rather than go into their shell and defend, they did what they do best and immediately took it to the Jets’ attack.
Each going at better than a run-a-ball, the duo mixed class and power in what McLay described as a match-winning partnership.
“Herb (Herbert) and wiz (Mueller) came together at 2-11 with the team in trouble, so for them to stand up and put on 138 it won the game for us really,” he said.
“It was quite courageous of them to back their own game and play like they did and, for us on the sidelines, it was fantastic to watch.
“We all know how good a form Kyle is in, the way he is hitting the ball at the moment I haven’t seen anything like it at this level, and for Kaine to play in a similar way it shows just how dangerous we are with the bat.”
With the platform laid at 3-149, the Kyabram middle order was then given the licence to let loose towards the end, with handy cameos from Jayden Tucker (28), Young (21) and Darin Ohlsen (16 not out) seeing it to a handsome 8-249.
Having produced a big total it was now up to the Redbacks bowling attack to finish the job ‒ and boy did it deliver.
Creating pressure with their ability to bowl well in partnership, five of the six Kyabram bowlers registered a wicket, with the constant scenes of Northerners batters heading to and from the pavilion a wonderful sight for the locals watching on.
A performance that put a full stop on a dominant day out for the Redbacks, McLay said it was a great luxury having such a diverse and dangerous attack at his disposal.
“Angus McKenzie opened the bowling with myself and we managed to pick up five quick wickets to put the game away and then from there the boys just kept putting on pressure,” he said.
“Our plan was just to keep it tight and make them hit to our areas and we did that and that came as a result of just a consistent bowling effort from all of our guys.
“To have such a balanced attack, it gives us the belief that we can defend any total.”
THE GAME
Kyabram 8-249 (Kaine Herbert 69, Kyle Mueller 65, Jayden Tucker 28, Josh Sidebottom 5-42) d Northerners 96 (Ben Pedretti 15, Tom Holman 3-15, Alec Young 2-11, Angus McKenzie 2-16, Jackson McLay 2-20)
STAR PLAYER
Kaine Herbert (Kyabram): Striding to the crease with his team in a world of trouble at 1-9, Herbert changed the context of the match with a blistering 69 off 57 balls. Partnered by star skipper Kyle Mueller, the pair played with freedom and took the game away from the Jets with a punishing 138-run stand.
