Jack Gaskill’s performance saved the day, though, as the Cats rebounded from a middle-order collapse to squeak home by three wickets, preserving a vital set of points.
The odds favoured the home side at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve after restricting Tatura to 9-174, a total enhanced mainly off the back of skipper Jayden Armstrong’s high-powered half-century.
His 50 off 42 balls (eight fours, one six) galvanised a total that threatened to look sluggish as Nick Breslin (4-22 from six overs) produced a devastating spell to ruin Tatura’s momentum.
You would be mistaken for thinking the Cats had it all their way in chasing, though.
THE GAME
Mooroopna 7-176 (Tasman Hall 53, Jack Gaskill 43*, Rajvir Singh 4-30) d Tatura 9-174 (Jayden Armstrong 50, Nick Breslin 4-22, Henry Barrow 2-24)
STAR PLAYER
Jack Gaskill (Mooroopna): Gaskill’s role in bringing the Cats home cannot be understated with a tremendous display of batting when the game started to get away from his side. He steadied the game brilliantly when called upon.
Appearing well and truly on the front foot and with opener Tasman Hall raising the bat, Will Russell and Rajvir Singh quickly put paid to any hopes of a cruise-control victory.
The heart of Mooroopna’s line-up quickly endured a similar fate to the opposing middle order as the Cats lost 5-8 to sit precariously.
Enter captain Gaskill and A-grade debutant Will Wood.
Steering the ship after entering at eight and nine, respectively, the duo batted with composure and intent.
Gaskill’s knock, at better than a run a ball, brought the contest home and returned Mooroopna to second after Katandra’s defeat earlier in the day.
Did the partnership benefit from a close run out no-call a few balls before the end?
Whatever the case, the damage had been done by then.
Henry Barrow was undoubtedly keen to pay tribute.
“It was a proper captain’s knock,” Barrow said.
“He stepped up exactly when we needed him to.
“Huge credit has to go to Will Wood; to bat at the end on his A-grade debut was absolutely fantastic.
“(Tatura has) really improved over the last couple of years with some good bats at the top.
“We expect every game to be close in this league, but getting over the line is nice.”
Waaia’s earlier win would have the Bombers all but secure the minor premiership, but returning to second is a welcome perk.
With the next fortnight off in a two-day round, all eyes now turn to a final-round meeting with Northerners.
“We need to win that last game and we’re confident we can beat anybody in the league; we showed that when we beat Waaia,” Barrow said.
“We’ve shown we can dig out of tough situations. We need to pick up some momentum.
“Cricket’s quite a lot about momentum and we probably snatched a bit towards the back end.
“It’d be nice to play our first final here at Mooroopna.”
