Karramomus swung the knockout blow on Numurkah’s season.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Raw pride and a sense of achievement were the emotions evident on Karramomus skipper Nathan Jones’ face post-match.
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It’s been over nine year since the Bloods club stalwart last played in a Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield final - let alone taste success in one.
But after a clinical day one with the ball, Jones was out in the middle as his side lofted the winning runs and secured a famous victory, knocking out Numurkah from the Haisman Shield finals.
It all began in the field on Saturday, Jones remarking the red and gold “couldn’t have done much better”.
The Bloods’ Lachie Keady (2-25) snagged the first two wickets early doors - vitally that included star Blue Raguvaran Aravinthan - with the pair of wickets taken in the third over to stun Numurkah to 2-2.
Zane Newbound (1-13) chipped in with a wicket five overs later, sending Kyren Dawson to the sheds for three, and the Blues found themselves on the ropes early at 3-7.
Numurkah opener Matthew Price stabilised the ship however, and took the reins on a solid partnership with Dylan Grandell, the duo combining for 46 before Grandell departed for 14 as a stingy Ethan Baxter (1-16) nabbed a pole.
Price’s next two partnerships were solid, but not to the extent of his efforts with Grandell, sharing 30 and 32 runs respectively with Kody Jackson and Riley Dawson before Price trudged off for 63 after a Bailey Simpson caught and bowled.
Simpson (4-28) and Zac Groombridge (2-18) secured the final wickets to bowl Numurkah out for 130, and provide the Bloods a few overs to begin its chase on day one.
“We bowled brilliantly,” Jones said post-game.
“We couldn’t have fielded or bowled much better, and we set it up with the bat yesterday too with some really positive intent.
“We know that we’ve got a really good bowling line-up, and if we bowled disciplined and backed it up with our work in the field, we’d create pressure.
“Some of the boys’ figures were unreal - Ethan (Baxter) I think bowled 13 overs and went for 16 runs.
“Lachie (Keady) got us off to a ripper start and that just flowed on, once we were up and about there was no stopping us yesterday.”
Karramomus had nine overs before stumps and was without loss on 16, providing further belief to the Bloods cohort.
On day two, that belief grew so high, a winning result never felt in doubt.
A team-effort in the field was replicated on the runs sheet, the Bloods sharing the load on its way to victory.
Karramomus batters Zavier Davidson and Ethan Baxter chat in between overs.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Karramomus batter Ethan Baxter and Numurkah wicket keeper Dylan Grandell track a skyed ball.
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Megan Fisher
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Numurkah bowler Connor McLeod claimed two wickets on Sunday.
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Megan Fisher
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Karramomus batter Ethan Baxter pulls the ball to the rope.
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Megan Fisher
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Numurkah fielder Riley Dawson takes a tough catch.
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Megan Fisher
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Karramomus batter Zavier Davidson winds up and whacks it.
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Megan Fisher
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Karramomus batter Bailey Simpson drives with power.
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Megan Fisher
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Numurkah bowler Matt Cline aims the Kookaburra.
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Megan Fisher
Zavier Davidson punched a calm 24 off 61 to stabilise after Mitchell McGrath fell for 10 on day two, before Ethan Baxter entered and made a handy 35 that only powered Karramomus closer to victory.
However, it was Bloods bowling master Bailey Simpson that hoisted Karramomus to its first finals win in nearly a decade, playing a poised innings with the willow to score 38 runs not out, aerially scooping the winning runs into a gap between two sprinting Numurkah fielders to deliver the final blow.
“To get it done four down is really good for the confidence with the boys, especially with Ethan and ‘Baz’ (Bailey Simpson) getting some runs today,” Jones said.
“It was pretty convincing with the bat.
“I was pretty proud with how the boys went about their last two days of cricket.”
The drought-breaking win means Karramomus will play reigning premiers Waaia in the semi-final next week after the Bombers upset Central Park-St Brendan’s in a Deakin Reserve thriller.
A win next week will book its spot in the Haisman Shield decider.
Bailey Simpson (Karramomus): An elite all-rounder display by Simpson, taking four wickets and playing a composed innings, hitting the drought-breaking winning runs off his own stick.
