Faced with a daunting target of 242 for victory, Wright came to the crease with his team in crisis at 2-8 and proceeded to dominate the Old Students’ bowlers for the next two hours in what can only be described as a masterful display of batting.
“Jedd just does what he does and it is pretty good to watch when is batting with complete confidence,” Katandra captain Ben Clurey said of Wright’s match-winning century.
“To go at more than a run a ball, he really made the most of what was a great batting track and gave our young blokes especially great confidence at the crease knowing the pressure wouldn’t be on them.”
Prior to the Wright masterclass, the Eagles found themselves on the back-foot courtesy of a balanced Old Students batting performance.
A 61-run stand between young guns Oscar Lambourn (24) and Connor Hangan (53) would prove the perfect platform for the home side as it went about posting a big first innings total.
Captain Felix Odell then came to the crease and ensured Students would make the most of the positive start, compiling a crucial run-a-ball 67 not out to see his side to 241 after 45 overs.
After winning the toss and bowling first, Clurey said his team tried a bit too hard to make early inroads.
“There was a tinge of green (on the pitch) and the conditions were steamy and overcast, so it felt like a bowling day, in the end we probably just tried a bit too hard with the ball,” he said.
“Looking at the conditions we got a bit too excited and tried to get a bit too creative rather than stick to our original plans, which probably cost us a few runs in that first innings.”
Needing a special batting effort to come away with the points, it was an ugly start for the Eagles, losing two quick wickets.
Bringing Wright to the crease, the star number four played the situation to perfection, seeing off a good opening spell and counter-punching where necessary to put the Katandra chase back on track.
Batting alongside Talon Wilson (38), the pair would put on 110 for the third wicket, before Wright really began to let loose, making it to three figures in 93 balls.
Students then fought their way back into the contest, removing Wright for 100 with 52 still required for victory.
But similarly, to the previous week, Hadleigh Sirett (24 not out) would stand up in the clutch as he and Nathan Hickey (29 not out) knocked off the remainder of the runs with three overs to spare.
Backing up their thrilling win against Northerners, the Eagles now find themselves nine points out of sixth position as the run to finals continues to heat up.
THE GAME
Katandra 5-242 (Jedd Wright 100, Talon Wilson 38, Connor Hangan 3-44) d Old Students 6-241 (Felix Odell 67 not out, Connor Hangan 53, Ben Clurey 2-32)
STAR PLAYER
Jedd Wright (Katandra): You will struggle to find many better Haisman Shield innings than what Wright produced at Kialla Park Reserve on Saturday. Coming to the crease with his side in a world of trouble, Wright took control from the moment he marked centre with the Students’ bowlers powerless to stop the onslaught. Striking at more than 100, his efforts alone kept the Eagles in the contest and now has them back in finals contention.
