Kyabram bowler Mason McDonald celebrates with teammates after a wicket.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The six-hitting, stump skittling summer of Cricket Shepparton has begun.
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Saturday saw the first action of the A-grade season commence, with a two-day T20 tournament played out at various ovals around the region.
And if there was one team that made an immediate statement, it was Kyabram.
The Redbacks shaped up against Shepparton Youth Club United at Princess Park, restricting the combine to 8-128 before hunting down the target with two and a half overs to spare.
Youngster Mason McDonald returned impressive figures of 4-21, though it was Nicholas Chambers who snared the key wicket of Fahad Mirza (46 runs).
On the chase, the Kyle show took over.
Returning batter Kyle McKenzie blasted 45 off 23 balls before departing, with first drop Kyle Mueller belting an unbeaten 50 to lead the Redbacks to a five wicket win, capping off the innings with a classy maximum to get over the line.
Other first round matches saw Central Park-St Brendan’s upend Pine Lodge for a 22-run win, Stephen Barrett’s 70 off 58 steered Katandra to an eight wicket triumph over Numurkah while Old Students downed Nagambie by five wickets, led by a four-pole haul from new recruit Tiron Fernando.
Round two had Kyabram claim another scalp, this time McKenzie raising the bat as the Redbacks surpassed Tatura’s 7-97 total with five men left in the shed.
Central Park-St Brendan’s eked out a 10 run victory against Mooroopna while Waaia lost its first encounter despite Jesse Trower’s 4-16, falling at the hands of Katandra.
Nagambie got off the mark thanks to a sublime bowling performance by James Wilson, beating Karramomus by 24 runs - though the Bloods got their own back in round three.
Mitch McGrath’s 43 not out was crucial as Karramomus thrashed Old Students by 62 runs, helping his side punch a ticket to the semi finals.
Mooroopna then got off the mark with an eight-wicket result over Pine Lodge thanks to Joel May’s half century, while SYCU’s new man Tyler Green also plundered a 50 to see the combine clinch a four-run win over Tatura.
The final action of Saturday had Numurkah host Waaia in a gritty affair, and after keeping the Blues pinned back at 7-97, the Bombers were able to chase down the runs with three wickets remaining.
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