Kyabram and Waaia make final bids for Haisman Shield flag

Reigning premiers Waaia and 2023–24 champions Kyabram will face off at Katandra Recreation Reserve to determine Cricket Shepparton’s A-grade premier, converging on that fateful 20-yard strip in the middle after two vastly differing campaigns.

The Redbacks look set to come in as favourites after a season that netted the Kyabram Reserve natives the minor premiership - and they haven’t tasted defeat in five months.

Kyle Mueller’s side have boasted a solid batting order all season, but it’s their searing bowling performances that have set them apart, only allowing teams past the 150-run mark on three occasions.

The opening partnership of right-arm seam dream team Jackson McLay and Sam Langley in particular has been difficult to beat.

McLay, fresh off an eight-wicket preliminary final spell and 37 so far this season, and Sam Langley boasting 34 of his own, will be a handful for the Bombers’ top order.

Then there’s the skipper himself; Mueller has amassed nearly 1000 runs when factoring in his digs for the Redbacks in all three formats and for Victoria at the Australian Country Cricket Championships.

His is one of the most prized wickets in country cricket, but don’t discount the support he’s received around him.

Throw experienced campaigner Paul Parsons (398) and wicket-keeper bat Billy McLay’s (321) contributions into the mix and it’s a tall order for bowlers at the top of the order.

But out of these two gladiators, Waaia has fanned the flames of grand final glory most recently, last year’s two-wicket thriller against Nagambie netting the Bombers their first Haisman Shield title.

There was a moment this season, however, that Mitch Cleeland’s men look like they might find themselves missing the six altogether.

Placed eighth with three rounds to go, the Bombers have played sudden-death cricket since then, and with a convincing 76-run win over Karramomus last start they have earned their shot at becoming back-to-back premiers.

Brandon Diplock has been a man on a mission with hauls of six and seven in back-to-back finals, while his bowling partner in crime Jesse Trower looms large with the new kookaburra.

Jordan Cleeland has also played a key part in his clubs' revival with bat and ball in equal measure.

On the last encounter between the two, no-one’s the wiser on form guide. The Redbacks were 155-run winners in the round five one-day clash but these teams haven’t met in a red-ball game since December 2024.

So, will it be back-to-back and a flag from fifth place for Waaia? Or can Kyabram deliver on its top billing and confirm itself as the competition’s best team of the past three seasons?

The first ball of the Haisman Shield grand final will be at 11am this Saturday, March 28.