Gallery | Redbacks tear through Lakers with the Kookaburra to record statement finals victory

An afternoon of bowling venom tore through Nagambie’s batting line-up, before it took less than 18 overs for Kyabram to chase down the Lakers’ lowly total at the home of the one day premiers.

A mixture of pace and a sprinkle of spin trapped Nagambie in the Redbacks’ web, as Kyabram demonstrated why it has entered this season’s finals series as flag favourites.

Five overs of pressing pace stifled runs on the board for Nagambie initially, with openers Dale Short and Jonathon Moore combining for only eight before coach Jackson McLay caught Moore’s edge, with a pumped-up celebration depicting how vital an early breakthrough was for Kyabram.

Short would fall six overs later, albeit without any additional runs to his name, after flashing at a delivery on the off-side.

The Kookaburra took a chunk of the bat before finding the hands of Paul Parsons in slips, handing McLay his second of the innings, and placing the Lakers at 2-14.

James Auld and Mitchell Winter-Irving dug deep for a 23-run stand, but McLay of the Charlie variation would send Winter-Irving packing for 12, as a swing down the ground feathered an edge to the keeper.

Jackson McLay would take his third scalp of the day shortly after, instinctively throwing his hands at a Mark Nolan aerial drive to make a split-second caught and bowled effort, before the dangerous Zac Winter-Irving nicked off in McLay’s next over with the pill.

A patient James Auld knock (13 off 103) came to an end after being trapped LBW, while Kyabram’s Louis Sabbagh-Holt ended the innings of James Wilson and Tom Barnes with catches deep in the outfield.

Redback Samuel Langley capitalised at the tail end, bowling Brayden Biggs before James Lloyd hacked a shot down mid-off fielder Kyle Fitzgerald’s throat.

The bowling carnage had rattled Nagambie all out for 83, leaving the Lakers in for the fight of its life to cause an upset.

Briefly though, the Lakers were within a shout.

Redbacks opener Cade Mueller was caught at point off Mitchell Winter-Irving, before Billy McLay edged one to slips - Kyabram at 2-11 after a touch over four overs bowled.

However, that’s where Nagambie’s hopes placed a full stop.

Skipper Kyle Mueller proved why he is nicknamed the Wiz, dining out on the Lakers’ bowling, hitting seven fours and a six in a quick fire 44 off 38, while Paul Parsons played into the partnership seamlessly, changing the strike when he pleased to too finish unbeaten, on 27.

Kyabram flew to victory, reaching the target in the 18th over to move onto a semi-final with a full day’s play to spare, eliminating the Lakers from flag contention in the process.

It was the perfect storm for Kyabram, and Jackson McLay couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

“I thought our bowling unit as a whole was excellent,” McLay said.

“’Langers’ (Samuel Langley) bowled a few overs for zero runs at the start so I was able to get on the end of his pressure, we just bowled in partnerships really well.

“I think after 40 overs they were on only about 53, the whole unit just hit their line and length.”

Despite racing towards a day one victory, McLay admitted reaching Nagambie’s total inside the day’s play wasn’t something to “even contemplate”, given it was a high stakes final.

“We didn’t expect to knock off the overs as quickly as it all unfolded,” McLay said.

“We didn’t talk about where we wanted to be at stumps, we just wanted to go about our business, and it just came naturally.

“When you’ve got the best bat in the competition in Kyle Mueller out there, anything can happen.

“It’s not something you even contemplate in a final though, but it’s a huge bonus, hopefully it gives us a small advantage to have a bit of a mental and physical break today.”

The Redbacks will face either Central Park-St Brendan’s, Numurkah or Karramomus in week two of the finals, depending on Sunday’s results.