Gallery | Teenage debutant saves the show for Kyabram in Haisman Shield heist over Old Students

Kyabram’s 40-run win over Old Students in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield on Saturday will go into the ledger as a steady early-season victory, but it featured a debut spell that already has tongues wagging across the league.

Anthony Evans claimed 4-29 in his first A-grade foray, helping his side out of jail after what was an average display in the eyes of playing coach Jackson McLay.

“It was good to bank the four points but we probably weren’t at our best – similar to last week really,” he said.

“I felt like we left 30 or 40 runs out on the park and then with the ball, we were actually pretty ordinary.

“It was a 14-year-old, Anthony Evans, on debut that changed the game in one over with three wickets. That probably sums it up.”

Sent in on a wicket offering some early wobble, the Redbacks found themselves teetering at 3-29, their top order scratched out with only Paul Parsons breaking double digits.

However, what followed was a partnership soaked in old-fashioned grit.

Kyle Mueller (66) and Tim Nelson (40) didn’t just steady the ship — they anchored it, lashed it to a wharf, and refused to let Old Students’ bowlers sniff opportunity again with a 100-run stand lifted Kyabram to 8-194.

“They had us in a tricky position at 3-30, but Kyle and Tim dug in, stuck it out and got a 100-run partnership which, in a one-day game, you’re probably going to win seven or eight times out of 10 if you get that partnership,” McLay said.

“You’re probably in the box seat with 190 on the board on that wicket, but you’ve still got to bowl well and take your chances which I felt we weren’t at our best with the ball.”

Tiron Fernando (3-19) ensured the Students asked plenty of their own – and celebrated each scalp accordingly – but at inning’s end, Kyabram had a defendable total.

The Students’ chase started with purpose as Callan McCabe was crisp and sure-handed, ticking over the scoreboard while batting partners dropped like flies.

And then came the kid.

Evans, with no fear in sight, dismissed McCabe, Oscar Lambourn and Rehan Bari in one over, flipping the match on its head that turned gentle pressure into full-blown collapse.

Though skipper Felix Odell and Hayden Kruse later added 29 runs each, Students would eventually run out of steam, all out for 154, as Evans gained great praise from his mentor.

“He’s only 14, so it is an unbelievable effort for him and experience for him,” McLay said.

“To walk away with four wickets and some quality wickets in there in terms of the players ... we’re all extremely excited for him.

“He’s got a lot of talent; he’s only young, so he’s got a fair bit of developing to go, but he’s going to be an exciting one to watch in the future.”

And, while Evans’ searing debut turned heads within the Redbacks’ camp, McLay demands more from the rest of his side.

With two games remaining before two-day cricket, he challenged his charges to bowl better in partnerships – and with some new blood arriving in the form of Sam Langley, that will become all the easier.

“We get Sam Langley in for his first game next week, he’s an opening bowler, so he’ll be a huge asset for us,” McLay said.

“He’ll add a bit of depth there, but for the rest of the bowling unit, we’ve got to get back to basics and start building some pressure.

“We do it in patches, so we know we can do it, we’ve just got to do it for longer periods.”