Revs: Old Students’ Liam Callegari was on-song with the ball on Saturday.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
It was the mesmerising spin of Old Students’ Liam Callegari that proved too much for an under-fire Shepparton United side on Saturday, who were handed their fifth loss of the Haisman Shield season at Princess Park.
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Having won the toss and chosen to bat, there was no doubt that United needed a big score to subdue a solid Students batting order, who were no strangers to hunting down a hefty total.
Warm: United’s James Jarrett has a spell.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
A slow, but steady start from United openers Mitchell Jarrett and Angus Lake saw them compile 21 runs without loss by the fifth over, seeing off a fierce Students opening combination of Callan McCabe and Connor Hangan.
Searching for a breakthrough, Students coach Gino Saracino called on his spin-wizard Callegari, who wasted no time in carving through the hapless United batters.
Airborne: Students’ wicketkeeper Dillon Hammer active behind the stumps.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Callegari sent Lake packing in the sixth over to shatter the opening partnership, before striking again with deadly effect in the 12th over to claim four wickets as United tumbled to 7/47.
Late order knocks from James Jarrett (32) and Darshana Lokuhettige (33) rescued their side from an abysmal total, with Students eventually toppling the home side for 123 after 39 overs.
Whack: United’s Darshana Lokuhettige drags one to the legside.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
United’s bowlers were tasked with a monumental challenge: defending a meek 123-run total against a lively Old Students batting cartel.
A wicket in the third over from B-grade recruit Wajhe Bangash had United’s tails up early, before Mahesh Kodamullage and skipper Chaminda Vidanapathirana applied the pressure to the Students middle order with some tight bowling to have the visitors scrambling at 4-52.
Follow-through: Callan McCabe opened the bowling for Old Students.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Students skipper Felix Odell (50 not out) joined Callan McCabe (31 not out) at the crease, both finding their groove with the bat to calm the nerves and see their side over the line with another six wickets up their sleeve, Odell raising his bat along the way.
Front-foot: James Jarrett compiled a handy 32 for United.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
THE GAME
Shepparton United 123 (DP Lokuhettige 33 J Jarrett 32 L Callegari 5-28 A Young 2-9) def by Old Students 4/127 (F Odell 50 not out C McCabe 31 not out)
STAR PLAYER
Liam Callegari (Old Students): Callegari was at his menacing best with the Kookaburra at Princess Park, luring the United batters into wayward shots that allowed him to scythe through their middle order. His unpredictable turn and bounce left United batters, and spectators, mesmerised.
